BIRMINGHAM – Zakyia Weathersby recorded her 12th double-double of the season and two other Blazers had double-figure scoring, but UAB suffered its first home loss of the season 58-52 against Louisiana Tech on Saturday afternoon.
Weathersby finished with 10 points while pulling down a game-high 17 rebounds. Emily Klaczek scored 15 points and Maria Roters added 12 points for the Blazers (10-6, 3-2 C-USA).
LA Tech’s Keiunna Walker scored a game-high 20 points while Kate Thompson and Anna Larr Roberson each had 10 points for the Lady Techsters (10-7, 2-4 C-USA).
The game started off slow, with the teams combining for 3-of-21 shooting. With LA Tech trailing 8-4 they closed out the 1st quarter scoring on a 9-0 run to take a 13-8 advantage.
Tech’s 1st half lead would get as high as 10 points when Thompson’s foul shots made the score 22-12 with 6:33 remaining in the 2nd quarter. Salma Bates’ layup sent the game into halftime with the Lady Techsters leading 28-21.
The Blazers outscored LA Tech 17-14 in the 3rd quarter and were able to make it a one-possession game three different times, the last on a Roters layup that made the score 39-36 with 1:32 remaining.
Roters opened the 4th quarter with a layup which put UAB within a basket at 42-40, but Tech responded with a 14-4 run to take a 56-44 lead with 3:59 to play. The Blazers answered by scoring the next eight points to get within four with 56 seconds left, but on the next possession, Tech’s Amaya Brannon got an offensive rebound off her missed shot and finished with a putback for the final basket of the game.
“When you shoot 60% from the free throw line, 20% from the 3-point line and 35% overall, that makes it challenging to win a game,” said head coach Randy Norton. “I’m proud of our effort. One game is not going to define this team.”
The Blazers remain in Birmingham to face WKU on Jan. 27 and Marshall on Jan. 29. The Lady Toppers (14-4, 7-0 C-USA) defeated FIU earlier today 87-66. Marshall (11-5, 6-1 C-USA) was a 57-44 winner in overtime also earlier today.
GOLD CARD
Women’s Basketball season tickets are on sale by purchasing the 2021-22 Gold Card for $65 here. The 2021-22 Gold Card will get you access to all home events for Women’s Soccer, Men’s Soccer, Volleyball, Women’s Basketball, Softball, and Baseball (Regions Field & Young Memorial). This card is not valid for Conference USA or NCAA Championship events.
INDIVIDUAL TICKETS
Tickets for individual games can be purchased here. Tickets are $5 for adults or $3 for those 18 or younger.
UAB BASKETBALL AT BARTOW ARENA
UAB requires wearing a mask indoors – regardless of vaccine status – unless actively eating or drinking and encourages masks during outdoor events, alongside regular handwashing.
For more information on the UAB women’s basketball team, follow @UAB_WBBall on Twitter and Instagram.
