MIAMI – UAB had three opportunities to tie the contest late in the game but came up short in its 84-81 setback at FIU on Saturday afternoon.
Demin DeShields led the Blazers with 19 points and six assists. Maria Roters added 16 points, Margaret Whitley scroed 13 and Maddie Walsh 11 off the bench for UAB (10-12, 2-11 C-USA).
Tanajah Hayes led all scorers with 27 points, while Kaliah Henderson scored 20 for FIU (12-10, 7-6 C-USA).
The Panthers would see a lead as high as 15 points with 6:08 remaining in the 3rd quarter and would carry an 11-point advantage into the 4th quarter at 75-64.
The Blazers opened the final stanza with back-to-back layups from DeShields followed by a 3-pointer from Desiree Ware, which made the score 75-71. UAB would make it a two-point game three times, the last coming on a Walsh layup with 1:27 remaining to make it 83-81.
With the score still 83-81 after a pair of FIU missed foul shots, UAB called timeout with 11 seconds remining. The Panthers forced a turnover, resulting in an UAB foul. FIU made one of the two, giving them an 84-81 edge.
The Panthers forced a second bad pass turnover with nine seconds left, but subsequently dribbled out of bounce. UAB drove down the court, but Whitley’s 3-pointer was off the mark. DeShields grabbed the loose ball, but her attempt was blocked as time ran out.
The Blazers shot 50% from the field, converting 26-of-52 and had its second-best game from the line in program history by sinking 96.1% of its foul shots, making 25-of-26. They dominated in the paint, 44-26.
The next home game is Feb. 9 against North Texas. This is UAB’s Education Day. Tip time is 11 a.m.
NOTES
- UAB made 27-of-28 free throws for 96.4% against Houston on Jan. 18, 1998
- Destinee McGhee made her first UAB start – she had her streak of 12 consecutive field goals snapped
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