BIRMINGHAM – Following two months of nonconference action, the Blazers will open C-USA play with second ranked Charlotte at home in Bartow Arena Thursday night.
UAB (8-4) ended nonconference play winning three of its last four games including a 103-60 victory over Tuskegee in which junior center Zakyia Weathersby recorded a double-double with 30 points and 12 rebounds.
The Blazers have seen a lot of production from the bench in the last few games with injuries and illnesses sidelining several players. Weathersby is one of those players, over the last three games she has averaged 16.3 points and 8.0 rebounds per game with four blocks in 23.0 minutes per game off the bench. Margaret Whitley has also found a groove averaging 7.7 points off the bench in the last three games including a 13-point performance against Tuskegee.
Senior Rachael Childress continues to stay hot with a league leading 17.8 points per game and 4.0 threes per game. Childress is averaging 19.3 points in the last three games, shooting 48.7 percent from the field and 55.6 percent from beyond the arc with 15 triples.
Charlotte (9-2) enter conference play with the second-best record in the league with its only losses coming from Fordham and No. 14 Kentucky. The 49ers are paced by redshirt senior Jade Phillips 15.1 points per game, which is eighth best in C-USA. Phillips ranks fourth in rebounds per game with 9.7 and sixth in field goal percentage shooting 48.0 percent on the season. The guard was named C-USA player of the week on Dec. 23 after recording her fifth double-double of the season against Delaware with 24 points and 15 rebounds.
The 49ers rank third in the conference in field goal percentage (42.1%) with seven players averaging 40 percent or better from the field. They average 65.6 points per game while allowing only 61.0 points from opponents.
“Our team is excited to start our conference season, especially opening up with two home games against top teams in the league,” said head coach Randy Norton. “Charlotte has a great team with a ton of experience, returning all five starters from last season.”
The series between UAB and Charlotte is deadlocked at 17-17 after the two teams split wins a season ago. The 49ers won the first matchup last season in February, holding the Blazers to under 60 points in Charlotte. The Blazers got their revenge in the C-USA tournament defeating the 49ers 70-55 to advance to the second round off 21 points from Miyah Barnes who went 5-5 from three-point range in the game.
Fans can follow along with the game via live stats on UABSports.com or by live stream on CUSA.tv.
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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