BIRMINGHAM – UAB women’s basketball will host its annual Pink Game against travel partner Middle Tennessee this Saturday at 2 p.m. at Bartow Arena.
The matchup has major implications as both the Blazers and Blue Raiders are tied for fourth in C-USA play with identical records in both conference and nonconference play. It is the first meeting of a back-to-back matchup with the Blue Raiders, who the Blazers will travel to next Thursday.
UAB (16-8, 8-4 C-USA) got back in the win column last Saturday with a gutsy performance against North Texas after falling behind as far as 15 points to the Mean Green. Rachael Childress helped lead the Blazers to victory as the senior went on an 11-0 run igniting the UAB offense. UAB held North Texas to just 12 second half points with just four points allowed in the fourth quarter. The win came after the Blazers first loss in seven games to then undefeated conference leader, Rice.
Middle Tennessee (16-8, 8-4 C-USA) looks to get back in the win column after falling to Rice last Saturday by a score of 77-60. The Blue Raiders had previously been on a four-game win streak before falling to the Owls. Sisters Anastasia and Aislynn Hayes have been lighting it up for Middle Tennessee this season, combining for 44.1 percent of the team’s offense. Anastasia, a redshirt sophomore transfer from Tennessee, is tied for first in C-USA with 17.7 points per game while also leading the team in assists (97). Aislynn is on track to earn Freshman of the Year honors averaging 13.5 points and 4.5 rebounds per game. She is a five-time winner of C-USA Freshman of the Week including the last two honors.
“Middle Tennessee has a great team and is well coached,” said head coach Randy Norton. “Our team is excited to play at home and we hope to have an energetic crowd cheering us on.”
Middle Tennessee leads the all-time series 12-8, including winning the most recent meeting in the Conference USA Tournament semifinals a season ago. The two teams met three times in 2019. The Blue Raiders won the first meeting 60-44 in Murfreesboro before the Blazers won the second in Birmingham 77-72 in overtime. However, it was Middle Tennessee who ended UAB’s hopes at a conference tournament championship defeating the Green and Gold 75-65 in Frisco, Texas behind 34 points from A’Queen Hayes.
Saturday’s game marks the Blazers annual Pink Game. The Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Alabama as well as UAB Eye Care will be on the concourse with information and fans are encouraged to wear pink in support of those fighting the disease.
Secure your women’s basketball season tickets by purchasing the 2019-20 Gold Card for $65 here. The Gold Card is an exclusive offer that grants you admission into all women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, volleyball, baseball and softball events for the upcoming academic year. Contact the UAB Ticket Office at (205) 975-UAB1 for more details.
For more information on the UAB women’s basketball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_WBB) and Instagram (UAB_WBBall).
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