BIRMINGHAM – Margaret Whitley hit six straight free throws in the final 33 seconds to solidify UAB’s 57-50 victory over UTSA on Wednesday night.
Whitley led all scorers with 15 points, Emily Klaczek added 14, Zakyia Weathersby had 12 points and eight rebounds while Maria Roters contributed 10 points for the Blazers (14-12, 7-8 C-USA).
Elyssa Coleman led UTSA (6-20, 3-12 C-USA) with 12 points.
Coleman opened the game with a basket before the Blazers scored the next nine points to go ahead by seven at the 3:33 mark of the 1st quarter. The Roadrunners would hold UAB scoreless the rest of the way as the teams were deadlocked at 9-9 after the first 10 minutes of play.
Back-to-back-to-back 3-pointers by Whitley, Caitlynn Daniels and a second from Whitley was part of a 16-4 run that made the score 25-17 with 3:17 left in the 2nd quarter. The Blazers took a 29-23 lead into halftime.
UAB would see two more eight-point leads in the 3rd quarter, the later coming after a Roters jumper that made the score 40-32 with 2:36 remaining. UTSA had the chance to tie the contest, but Jade Pimentel’s jumper did not fall at the buzzer as the Blazers hung onto a 40-38 lead going into the final stanza.
The Roadrunners tied the game at 48-48 with 3:30 to go in the 4th quarter, but the Blazers defense would allow just one field goal the rest of the game.
“Tonight, we were able to win this game with our defense,” said head Randy Norton. “Last time out UTSA scored 21 points off 22 of our turnovers. Tonight, we only gave the ball up 10 times and they got seven points from that.”
“This win was a big load off their shoulders. Hopefully, this is the turning point for this team and we can finish out this season strong.”
The Blazers will celebrate Senior Day versus UTEP on Feb. 26. Emily Frasco, Sara Rosenfeldt, Claudia Armato and Zakyia Weathersby will all be honored. The home finale is Mar. 3 against Southern Miss. The regular season concludes against LA Tech on Mar. 5.
NOTES
- The 10 turnovers were a season-low for UAB (averaged 16.9 coming into tonight)
- The 50 points allowed ties the third best defensive performance this year (43 vs. Grambling, 45 vs. Shorter, 50 vs. Chicago State)
- Weathersby had four blocks – she is four behind Charlotte’s for KeKe McKinney for the most in C-USA
- UAB leads the all-time series 8-3
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