Author: Katherine Kirk
The UAB Women’s Basketball team is preparing to begin non-conference play after a win in exhibition against Spring Hill College.
UAB head coach Randy Norton said that after a rough conference play last year he is confident in his team’s improvement and looks forward to this season.
“We just want to be the best we can be on the court, in the classroom, in the community, and in our personal lives,” Norton said. “Every day we come to practice with the mindset that we are here to win a championship because we believe that championships are won during practice.”
UAB women’s basketball opened its season by beating Spring Hill College 85-57 in an exhibition game Nov. 5. The Blazers start their regular season by hosting Shorter on Nov. 10.
Last season the Blazers finished 10-13. They started the season strong, winning five of their first six non-conference games. However, they only won three of the 11 conference games.
This season, UAB will have 11 games before they begin conference play in December against UTEP. Highlights from the schedule include a West Coast trip to play San Diego State and Pepperdine.
Look out for returning players Zakyia Weathersby and Margaret Whitley this season.
Weathersby dominated last season, making C-USA second team all-conference. The senior from Mississippi led the conference in rebounds scoring 282 points and set two career records in rebounds and field goals against Old Dominion.
Last year, Weathersby averaged 14 points and 12 rebounds per game. Due to the pandemic, Weathersby is allowed to return for a fifth year. Norton said they are excited to have her back.
Whitley led the conference in 3-point field goals last season, making 72. The Illinois native averaged 19.39 points per game last year and had an 89.5% free-throw accuracy. Whitley had thirteen 20-point games last year, the second highest of anyone in the league.
Norton said most of their players will have an extra year of experience since the league is allowing these players to come back and make up for the year they lost due to COVID.
“We’ve got a bunch of young kids who were freshman last year and they get to be freshman again because of COVID. But with that said they’ve got just an amazing year of court experience from last season” Norton said “They’ve greatly, greatly improved from last year”
UAB will tipoff against Shorter at 6 p.m. Nov. 10 in Bartow Arena. Tickets are free for UAB students and anyone who brings their Men’s basketball ticket from the Nov. 9 game. Free pizza will be provided to students after halftime.
