The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
WKU
First Quarter Not Enough; WKU Tops UAB 60-48
1/12/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Score: Western Kentucky 60, UAB 48 Final Box (PDF)
Records: UAB (8-7, 1-3 C-USA), WKU (12-5, 4-1 C-USA)
Location: E.A. Diddle Arena, Bowling Green, Ky.
Series Record: WKU leads 16-4; 8-2 at E.A. Diddle Arena
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – UAB came out of the gates on fire, but it wasn’t enough to hold off Western Kentucky as the Lady Toppers earned a 60-48 win at E. A. Diddle Arena on Thursday afternoon. UAB, who had a pair of Blazers in double figures, was led by Keonna Farmer’s second double-double of the season.
UAB HIGHLIGHTS
- UAB moves to 8-7 this season and 1-3 in C-USA play
- Head coach Randy Norton drops to 57-51 and 26-30 in conference play
- The starting lineup of Miyah Barnes, Janeka Williams, Keonna Farmer, Deanna Kuzmanic, and Rachael Childress falls to 1-1 this season
- UAB held WKU to 60 points this game; the Lady Toppers average 79.5 points per game in their first four conference games
- The Blazers held the Lady Toppers to just 10.0 percent (2-of-20) from the 3-point line, the Lady Toppers’ lowest percentage and fewest makes this season
- UAB’s 22 points in the first quarter is a season-high
- UAB led the entire first half
- The Blazers nine points in the second quarter is the fewest scored in a C-USA matchup this season
- UAB’s eight points in the third quarter is a season low
- The Blazers were held under 50 points for the first time since being held to 49 against WKU on January 28, 2016
- UAB tied WKU’s bench with nine points; the Blazers have led or tied its foes’ bench production 12 times this season
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Junior Keonna Farmer recorded her second double-double of the season and third of her career with 12 points, 15 rebounds
- Farmer reeled in 15 rebounds; The Birmingham, Ala., native has recorded 15 or more rebounds two times in her career, both coming this season (last at Samford Dec. 8, 2016)
- Farmer led the Blazers in rebounding for the 13th time in her career, 12th time this season, and in 11 consecutive games
- Freshman Rachael Childress’ 13 points is the ninth double-figure game of her career; Childress has led the Blazers in scoring a team-best five times this season
- Farmer knocked down a career-high six free throws and attempted a season-high seven
- Junior Whytney Singleton recorded her first block of the season
- Sophomore Deanna Kuzmanic made her 46th consecutive start, the longest active streak on the team while Farmer made her 15th consecutive start, a career-long
HOW IT HAPPENED
- UAB came out of the gates firing on all cylinders as it took an early 16-8 lead, thanks to a 6-of-6 showing from the floor. UAB shot 9-of-11 in the first quarter as it led WKU 22-12 at the first break.
- In the second, an eight-minute scoring drought allowed WKU to cut the UAB lead to five, 31-26, at the midway point.
- An 11-2 run by the Lady Toppers to open the third quarter allowed WKU to take its first lead on the contest. The Blazers countered with a 6-2 run to tie the game at 37-all, however a WKU responded with a 7-0 run of their own, to take a 46-39 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
- UAB’s 8-4 run cut WKU’s lead to one possession, 50-47, with 6:10 to play in the contest, but the Lady Toppers closed out the final six minutes, outscoring the Blazers 10-1 as it defeated UAB 60-48.
BREAKING DOWN THE BOX SCORE
- The Blazers scored 22 points in the first quarter, but were held to just 26 points for the remainder of the contest
- WKU led UAB in points in the paint (30-18), points off turnovers (27-8(, second chance points (8-6) and fast break points (7-5)
- UAB had a pair of Blazers in double figures with Rachael Childress (13) and Keonna Farmer (12); WKU has a pair as well in Kendall Noble (24) and Tashia Brown (10)
- UAB shot 9-of-12 in the opening quarter (75.0 percent) and was held to 7-of-34 (20.6 percent) for the rest of the game
- UAB committed 25 turnovers to WKU’s 11; the Blazers dished out 12 assists and swiped just two steals
- Kendall Noble paced the Lady Toppers offense with 24 points while reeling in eight boards and swiping seven steals; she was held to five points in the first half
- UAB shot 1-of-14 (7.1 percent) from the floor in the fourth quarter, its lowest percentage of the season
QUOTABLE
Head Coach Randy Norton
Opening Statement …
I saw our team, at times, was a really good basketball team today. When you look at the statistics, you turn it over 25 times and they score 27 points off those turnovers, it makes it awfully hard, especially when you’re playing one of the best teams in the league. Free throws were better; in the second half we only gave up three offensive rebounds – this is all part of the process. To come to WKU in a hostile environment – we went toe-to-toe with them; the score is not indicative of how close that game was. I’m really proud of my team. They’re getting better every game and just need to stick to the process and stay positive.
On Keonna Farmer…
I thought she had a heck of a game. We know she is capable of that – she’s had those games – we need that consistently out of her, but that is what we expect from her. She is a junior in her fourth year playing college basketball – so we expect that of her.
UP NEXT
The Blazers continue their road trip at Marshall on Saturday. Tip in Huntington, W. Va., is set for 12 p.m. CT.
For more information on UAB women's basketball, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_WBB), Instagram (@UAB_WBBALL)
