BIRMINGHAM – Miyah Barnes tied a career high 25 points in the Blazers’ 74-65 loss to Rice Saturday afternoon in Bartow Arena.
UAB (17-10, 9-6 C-USA) started the first quarter hot with a 14-7 run to open the game with 10 points from Barnes. However, the Owls answered with an 11-0 run to close out the quarter and took the early 18-16 lead after one.
Rice (18-8, 13-2 C-USA) opened the second quarter with a seven-point burst from Lauren Schwartz and Erica Ogwumike. The Blazers fell behind 10 points before stringing together a 7-2 run near the end of the half to cut the lead to five at halftime, 36-31.
The Blazers outscored the Owls 14-13 in the third quarter despite shooting 30.8 percent from the field. UAB went 6-for-6 from the charity stripe in the third to cut the game to six with 10 minutes remaining.
The fourth quarter turned into a shoot-out as UAB shot 50.0 percent from the field with 20 points and Rice shot 70.0 percent with 25 points. The Blazers regained the lead to open the fourth with a jump shot from Barnes and a three from Rachael Childress who banked in her only triple attempt of the day. However, the Owls responded with 11 points from Ogwumike and three treys from Jasmine Smith. Rice would hold on to claim the 74-65 victory and hold strong at second place in league standings.
“I am really proud of our effort today,” said head coach Randy Norton. “Rice shot the ball better than us. At this point it is a next game mentality and live to play another day.”
The Owls, who shoot just 28.3 percent from behind the arc on average, recorded 10 triples off 47.6 percent shooting. Ogwumike led the Owls with 21 points and seven rebounds. Smith added 17 points going 4-for-4 from three.
Barnes’ 25 points led all scorers and tied her season and career high that she set back in November against Oklahoma. Childress was the only other Blazer to score in double figures adding 13 points while recording two steals and dishing out a pair of assists.
The Blazers will travel to Norfolk, Va. to face (RV) Old Dominion next Saturday. UAB defeated the Monarchs at the beginning of January 76-65 at Bartow Arena.
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