NEW ORLEANS – UAB women’s basketball came up short in overtime to undefeated Colorado in the first game of the Tulane Classic 77-69.
Rachael Childress led the Blazers with 19 points including four three-pointers for her fourth straight game with three or more triples. Miyah Barnes scored 17 points going 11-12 from the free throw line.
UAB (6-4) fell behind early as the Buffaloes got out to a 6-0 start before Katelynn Thomas scored two quick buckets for the Blazers. UAB cut the deficit to two when Barnes hit a three as the shot clock was expiring. The Green and Gold would close the first quarter with a 14-1 run capped off by a three-pointer at the buzzer from Trista Magee to put UAB ahead 18-12.
The Blazers jumped out to an 11-point lead in the second quarter after Childress knocked down her first three of the day to put UAB up 27-16 with 6:54 remaining in the first half. The Buffs answered with seven points of their own to trim the lead. Magee’s third three of the game came with 3:36 remaining in the second quarter to increase the UAB lead to six. The Blazers went into halftime up 35-30 off nine points from Barnes and Magee.
UAB opened the second half with back-to-back threes from Childress and Barnes. Colorado (11-0) scored the next eight points to bring the game back within three. A nifty hook shot from Sara Rosenfeldt put the Blazers up seven before Colorado scored five straight points. The third quarter would come to a close with UAB up 51-47.
Colorado scored the first nine points of the fourth quarter to regain the lead for the first time since the first quarter 56-51. Childress sparked UAB with a layup and a three to cut the deficit to two with five minutes remaining. The Blazers and Buffs continued to trade blows with multiple lead changes in the closing minutes of regulation. With 23 seconds remaining in the game and the Blazers down one Childress hit her fourth three of the day to put the Blazers up 64-62. Colorado would find the game tying bucket with 13 seconds left and Barnes jumper tipped off the rim to send the game to overtime knotted at 64 apiece.
UAB would lead 69-67 with 3:39 left in overtime after a Zakyia Weathersby spin move ended in a made layup. Colorado scored the next five points to regain the lead, which they would not relinquish for the remainder of the game. The Buffs would hold on to win 77-69 for their 11th straight victory.
“Really proud of our kids today with their effort and fight,” said head coach Randy Norton. “They stuck to the game plan and so many positives came from this game. In the end, it came down to free throws as they attempted 13 more than us, 23 of their points were off of free throws.”
Colorado was paced by Aubrey Knight’s 24 points and Mya Hollingshed’s 22 points. The Buffs recorded eight blocks and grabbed 43 boards.
UAB shot 42.9 percent from behind the arc with nine triples in the game. The Blazers scored 22 points in the paint with 14 points off turnovers. Magee and Weathersby paced UAB in rebounds with seven boards apiece. Angela Vendrell led the team in assists for the second straight game dishing out eight. Vendrell recorded one block which put her at 95 in her career moving her into fifth place in UAB history.
The Blazers return to action tomorrow at 1 p.m. in day two of the Tulane Classic against Texas Southern.
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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