BIRMINGHAM – Two of the hottest teams in Conference USA will clash Thursday night as the Blazers travel to Houston to take on the Rice Owls.
UAB (15-7, 7-3) is the winner of its last six games in which the Blazers are holding their opponents to 59.3 points per game with a scoring margin of +18.2.
Shooting guard Rachael Childress built on her record setting senior campaign last week as she entered the top 10 all-time NCAA three pointers list against UTSA. Childress continued the hot streak with her best offensive game of the season against UTEP scoring 26 points off 76.9 percent shooting with four triples. Childress accounted for 41.3 percent of the Blazers offense against the Miners and was a perfect 6-6 with 18 points at halftime.
Angela Vendrell dominated the boards against UTEP collecting 14 rebounds in the game will scoring seven points and dishing out three assists. Over the last six games Vendrell has accumulated 43 rebounds, 30 assists, 11 steals, eight blocks and recorded 42 points for the Blazers.
Rice (14-6, 9-0 C-USA) is undefeated in conference play this season, marking a 25-game conference win streak for the Owls dating back to a season ago when they went 16-0 en route to the C-USA regular season and tournament titles. The last conference loss for Rice came against UAB in the 2017-18 C-USA conference tournament when the Blazers defeated the Owls 67-55 in Frisco, Texas.
Reigning C-USA Player of the Year Erica Ogwumike has been dominant in league play averaging a league best 19.6 points and 11.4 rebounds against C-USA squads. She was named C-USA player of the week for the second time this season on January 27 after back-to-back double-doubles where she averaged 25.5 points and 12 rebounds.
Nancy Mulkey has also been major for the Owls as the reigning C-USA Defender of the Year has racked up a league best 58 blocks this season despite missing three games earlier in the year. Mulkey was named C-USA Player of the Week on January 21 after averaging 18 points, 13.5 rebounds and four blocks over two games.
“Our team has had a great week of practice and we are excited about another opportunity to play this Thursday,” said head coach Randy Norton.
The Blazers and Owls have met on 16 prior occasions with UAB leading the series 10-6. However, the Owls won the last meeting between the two teams defeating UAB 55-43 last season in Birmingham. The win snapped Rice’s five game losing streak to the Blazers. Mulkey recorded 14 points, 10 rebounds and an impressive nine blocks in the game to shut down the UAB offense.
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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