BIRMINGHAM – In a game that featured eight ties and nine lead changes, Rice was able to hold off UAB 60-55 on Monday night at Bartow Arena.
Zakyia Weathersby led all players with 19 points and 13 rebounds. The trio of Emily Klaczek, Margaret Whitley and Maria Roters each scored eight points for the Blazers (13-12, 6-8 C-USA).
Ashlee Austin led Rice (10-11, 5-8 C-USA) with 18 points. Maya Bokunewicz added 12 for the Owls who defeated the Blazers for the second time in four days.
UAB scored the first seven points of the game before Rice countered with a 13-0 run. The Blazers tied the game after Whitley and Klaczek hit back-to-back 3-pointers. Malia Fisher scored the final basket of the quarter to put Rice up 15-13.
An and-1 by Haylee Swayze put the Owls up 23-17 at the 5:44 mark of the 2nd quarter. But the Blazers would rattle off seven straight points to take a 24-23 advantage. Leads would be exchanged two more times before Destiny Jackson’s layup sent the game into halftime tied at 27-27.
The 3rd quarter went back and forth, with the largest lead being four points by Rice at 7:43. The lead would change hands three times and see five ties, the last coming after Austin made a pair of free throws with two seconds remaining to make the score 45-45.
The teams exchange points to start the 4th quarter. Austin’s layup at 7:33 followed by a 3-pointer by Trinity Gooden and two free throws by Jackson gave the Owls the lead for good. Kylee Schneringer’s layup with 1:07 left got UAB within two points of tying the game, but Bokunewicz hit her jumper on the next possession making the score 57-53. The Blazers had two chances to score on their trip up the floor, but neither shot fell. Austin was fouled, making the first free throw. She missed the back half, but Fisher got the rebound and putback.
Weathersby’s layup with 27 seconds left was the final basket of the game. Whitley got a steal with 21 second remaining, but UAB could not convert the rest of the way.
The Blazers will stay in Birmingham for the next three games. On Feb. 23 UAB hosts UTSA followed by Senior Day versus UTEP on Feb. 26. The home finale is Mar. 3 against Southern Miss. The regular season concludes against LA Tech on Mar. 5.
NOTES
- Whitley’s 3-pointer at 2:36 of the 1st quarter moved her into ninth place with 163 for her career
- UAB has not played full strength since its victory over Southern Miss on Feb. 10
- Weathersby recorded her 19th double-double of the season and leads the league in
- Rebounds – 11.3
- FG% – .580
- O-Rebounds – 4.2
- D-Rebounds – 7.1
- Number of 10+ rebounds games -19
C-USA CHAMPIONSHIPS TICKETS
Tickets are now on sale for the 2022 Conference USA Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships! Purchase your tickets here.
GOLD CARD
Women’s Basketball season tickets are on sale by purchasing the 2021-22 Gold Card for $65 here. The 2021-22 Gold Card will get you access to all home events for Women’s Soccer, Men’s Soccer, Volleyball, Women’s Basketball, Softball, and Baseball (Regions Field & Young Memorial). This card is not valid for Conference USA or NCAA Championship
INDIVIDUAL TICKETS
Tickets for individual games can be purchased here. Tickets are $5 for adults or $3 for those 18 or younger.
UAB BASKETBALL AT BARTOW ARENA
UAB requires wearing a mask indoors – regardless of vaccine status – unless actively eating or drinking and encourages masks during outdoor events, alongside regular handwashing.
For more information on the UAB women’s basketball team, follow @UAB_WBBall on Twitter and Instagram.
