The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB
FIU
UAB Downs FIU in Miami
3/4/2017 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Score: UAB 62, FIU 51 Final Box (PDF) l Season Stats
Records: UAB (15-14, 8-10 C-USA), FIU (5-24, 3-14)
Location: Miami, Fla., FIU Arena
Series Record: UAB leads 8-3; Norton vs. FIU: 5-2; In Miami UAB leads 3-1
MIAMI – The UAB women’s basketball team was able to hold off FIU’s fourth quarter comeback as the Blazers defeated the Panthers 61-52 at FIU Arena Saturday afternoon. Keonna Farmer led the attack as she narrowly missed a double-double with 12 points and eight rebounds.
UAB NOTES
- UAB improves to 15-14 this season and 8-10 in C-USA play
- Head coach Randy Norton improves to 64-58 and 33-35 in conference play
- As a team, the Blazers hit six 3-pointers, totaling 211 made triples this season; the team’s combined 211 3-pointers ranks third in the UAB record book for 3-point made field goals in a single and season and they need five more to move into second place
- The starting lineup of Deanna Kuzmanic, Miyah Barnes, Rachael Childress, Keonna Farmer, and Janeka Williams improves to 9-8 and picked up their second consecutive road win
- The Blazers picked up their fifth road win of the season and second consecutive win at FIU Arena
- UAB shot a combined 50 percent (23-of-46) from the field marking the seventh time this season the Blazers have shot 50 percent or higher
- The Blazers were a perfect 4-0 against Florida Atlantic and FIU this season for the first season sweep of the C-USA’s Florida schools in UAB history
- UAB picked up consecutive road victories for the first time this season
- The Blazers ended the regular season with a win for the 18th time in the program’s 39-year history
- UAB outscored FIU by three points in the second half; the Blazers are outscoring their opponents by +80 points this season in the second half
- The Blazers tallied 20 bench points to the Panthers six marking the 21st time this season UAB has outscored its opponents bench; the Blazers are 12-9 in those games
- The Blazers netted 22 points in the third quarter, the second most points scored in the third quarter in league play this season; the most was 25, also against FIU, on Jan. 21
- UAB was held to eight points in the second quarter, the fewest points scored in the second quarter in league play this season
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
- Junior Keonna Farmer netted 12 points to lead the Blazers in scoring for the fourth time this season
- Farmer also led UAB the boards as she reeled in eight rebounds; she’s led UAB on the glass 19 times this season, a team-best; Farmer also blocked a career-high four shots
- Freshman Miyah Barnes’ 11 points marks the 10th double figure game of her career; Barnes knocked down four field goals marking the fifth time in league play she connected on at least four shots from the field
- Senior Janeka Williams reeled in a season-high five rebounds
- Williams knocked down three of her attempts from the field; she has hit three or more field goals in the previous 10 games
- Freshman Katelynn Thomas was a perfect 3-of-3 from the field marking the fourth time in her career she shot 100 percent from the field (4-of-4 vs. Miles Dec. 28; 3-of-3 vs. Marshall Feb. 16; 2-of-2 at FAU March 2)
- Freshman Rachael Childress connected on two 3-pointers, totaling 91 made triples this season; her 91 3-pointers ranks second in the UAB record books for 3-point field goals made in a single season
- Sophomore Deanna Kuzmanic made her 60th consecutive start, the longest active streak on the team; Barnes made her 26th consecutive start, the most by a freshman on the roster
BREAKING DOWN THE BOX SCORE
- UAB led for 39 minutes and 44 seconds of the 40-minute game
- Overall, UAB shot 50 percent (23-of-46) from the floor while holding FIU to 37.7 percent (20-of-53)
- In the opening quarter, UAB shot 8-of-15 (53.3 percent) from the floor. UAB held FIU to just 9-of-29 (31.0 percent) in the first half
- UAB shot 53 percent or better in three quarters
- FIU shot 7-of-11 (63.6 percent) in the fourth
- UAB out-rebounded FIU 34-27
- Five Blazers shot at least 50 percent from the floor
- UAB’s bench outscored FIU’s 20-6; but the Panthers held advantages in points in the paint (28-24) and points off turnovers (20-15); UAB held an 11-4 advantage in second chance points off six offensive boards
HOW IT HAPPENED
- UAB came out of the gates firing on all cylinders as the Blazers took an earl 13-8 lead the media timeout. The Blazers maintained their lead as they held a six point, 20-14 lead at the end of the opening 10.
- Strong defensive 10 minutes saw just 16 total points scored in the second quarter. The Blazers opened the quarter with back-to-back buckets to take a 10-point lead, but seven scoreless minutes allowed FIU to inch back into the game to cut the UAB lead to two, 24-22, with 4:15 to play. The Blazers scored two straight buckets to lead 28-22 at the midway point.
- A masterful third quarter performance by Keonna Farmer (10 points, four rebounds) helped extend UAB’s lead to as many as 20, 60-30, with 1:47 to go in the third. A triple at the buzzer allowed the Panthers to go on a 11-2 run spanning over the third and fourth quarters to cut the Blazers lead to 11, 52-41, with 6:38 to play.
- The Panthers comeback fell short as UAB was able to leave Miami with a 61-52 win.
CONFERENCE TOURNAMENT
The Blazers return to Birmingham to compete in the Conference USA Women's Basketball Championship presented by Metro PCS beginning Wednesday at UAB's Bartow Arena. The Blazers' opponent has yet to be revealed.
The Blazers have chosen the 12:30 p.m. time slot with the game set for Wednesday, March 8. Tickets for women's basketball single session tickets are set to go on sale online on Sunday, March 5. Tickets for Wednesday and Thursday games, held at Bartow Arena, are $10.
Tickets for Friday and Saturday's semifinals and finals are $20 and include both the men's and women's games held at Legacy Arena.
All session tickets are available to purchase here.
For more information on UAB women's basketball, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_WBB), Instagram (@UAB_WBBALL) and facebook (UAB Women's Basketball).
