BIRMINGHAM – Emily Klaczek scored eight of her career-high 18 points in the 4th quarter as the UAB women’s basketball team opened its season with a 76-45 victory over Shorter at Bartow Arena on Wednesday.
Klaczek was 6-of 9 from the field including a pair of three pointers. Zakyia Weathersby posted a double-double of 12 points and 11 rebounds, Margaret Whitley scored 11 points and Destinee McGhee added career-bests 10 points and nine rebounds for the Blazers.
Jasmine Gaines led Shorter with 12 points.
After getting down by six points midway through the 1st quarter, UAB went on a 13-4 run to regain the lead and take a 21-18 advantage after the first 10 minutes of play.
The Blazers kept up the momentum in the 2nd quarter, only allowing one Shorter field goal through the first 6:54. McGhee’s layup at 4:38 gave UAB its first double-digit lead of the game at 33-22. Anna Denes’ free throw with one minute remaining gave the Blazers’ their largest lead of the half at 17 points and McGhee’s layup closed out the scoring with UAB taking a 43-27 lead into halftime.
In the 3rd quarter, the Blazers held Shorter to 3-of-18 shooting for 16.7%. Six different Blazers recorded field goals as they took a 55-33 advantage into the 4th quarter.
After a pair of Hawks free throws opened the 4th quarter, UAB exploded on a 14-2 run, which included six points from Klaczek in a span of 1:23 – two of those baskets were a direct result of steals.
“I thought defensively, we really tightened things up tonight,” said head coach Randy Norton. “After giving up 18 points in the 1st quarter, we only gave up 18 points in the 2nd half, so I’m pleased with that.”
For the game, the Blazers defense held Shorter to 16-of 63 shooting (25.4%) and did not allow a 3-pointer as the Hawks were 0-for-11.
“Emily Klaczek did a tremendous job off the bench tonight. She’s the classic example of ‘she stays ready so she doesn’t have to get ready’. Her stat line speaks for itself, but more importantly she brought a ton of energy to our team,” added Norton.
Up next, the Blazers hit the road to face Chicago State on Nov. 13 in a homecoming for Klaczek, Whitley, Lindsey Dullard, Sara Rosenfeldt and Kylee Schneringer.
NOTES
- Klaczek’s previous career-high was seven points twice (Middle Tennessee on 1/30/21 and Fort Valley State on 3/5/21)
- McGhee’s previous career-highs were seven points and three rebounds against SMU on 12/9/20
- Weathersby recorded her 16th career double-double
- UAB improves to 31-13 in home openers, including a 25-9 record at Bartow Arena
- 45 points was the second-best opening night defensive effort in program history (31 vs. South Alabama 11/24/96)
GOLD CARD
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UAB BASKETBALL AT BARTOW ARENA
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