BIRMINGHAM – Four Blazers scored in double-figures led by Emily Klaczek’s 16 points in UAB’s 77-43 victory over Grambling State on Tuesday afternoon.
Maria Roters was a perfect 6-for-6, scoring 13 points and tying her career-high with 12 rebounds. Zakyia Weathersby was one rebound shy of a double-double with 12 points and nine boards and Destinee McGhee added 11 points for the Blazers (7-4), who are now 6-0 at Bartow Arena this season.
Alexus Holt and Ciera Ellington scored 12 and 11 points, respectively for the Lady Tigers (2-8).
The game was played tight through the first 20 minutes with three ties and six lead changes. The biggest advantage of the half was a five-point lead for GSU at 2:56 of the 1st quarter. UAB countered that with a 6-0 run to go ahead 13-12 at the 1:14 mark.
A pair of Klaczek free throws gave the Blazers a three-point lead late in the 2nd quarter, but Trasity Totten’s and-1 sent the game into halftime deadlocked at 27-27.
UAB came out of the gates on a 18-3 run to start the first five minutes of the 3rd quarter to take a 45-30 lead. They would end the quarter on a 9-0 run to go ahead 59-33, outscoring the Lady Tigers 32-6.
The Blazers’ lead would get as high as 35 points when Maddie Walsh’s layup capped a 10-0 run and made the score 74-39 with 4:35 remaining in the game.
The Blazers outrebounded the Lady Tigers 50-33 and outscored them in the paint 38-22. UAB scored 20 points off of 15 Grambling turnovers and held them to 24.6% shooting.
“When you look at the big picture, our team is getting better,” said head coach Randy Norton. “We came out in the in 2nd half and did exactly what we challenged them to do. I’m very proud of the way they stepped up in the second half.”
After the Christmas break, the Blazers will begin Conference USA play in El Paso when they visit UTEP on Dec. 30 and San Antonio against UTSA Jan. 1. UAB returns home to host North Texas on Jan. 6 and Rice Jan. 8.
NOTES
- UAB’s 32 points was the most scored in a quarter this season
- Roters also had 12 rebounds against Long Island on Jan. 11, 2020 as a member of Fairleigh Dickinson
- The 43 points allowed and 24.6 shooting percentage was a season-best for the UAB defense
- The Blazers have outrebounded their opponent in 10 of 11 games this season
- UAB leads the all-time series 3-1 and improves to 62-11 against teams from the SWAC
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UAB BASKETBALL AT BARTOW ARENA
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