Zakyia Weathersby secured nineteen points and thirteen rebounds for the Blazers (13-12), making her the top scorer in the Blazers‘ 60-55 loss to Rice (10-11).
UAB opened strong with baskets by Kylee Shcneringer and Weathersby. The Blazers held their lead majority of the first quarter when Rice’s Ashlee Austin sank a jumper for the Owls giving them a one-point lead.
The Blazers were able to tie the game with 1:52 left in the first quarter; however, a layup by Rice’s Malia Fishers gave the Owls the upper hand.
The Blazers fought hard for baskets in the second quarter and could not regain their lead until a minute and twenty seconds before halftime when UAB’s Emily Klaczek hit a three-pointer. Rice’s Destiny Jackson tied up the score before halftime with a layup for the Owls.
Jackson opened the second half with back-to-back layups giving the Owls a four-point lead. UAB evened the score six minutes into the second half with a layup from Margret Whitley.
UAB held their lead throughout the third quarter; however, Rice caught up with free throws by Austin with two seconds left in the third quarter.
UAB was unable to regain their lead in the fourth quarter after a three-pointer by Rice’s Trinity Gooden three minutes into the final quarter.
This loss was UAB’s fourth in a row. Head coach Randy Norton blames his teams’ downfall on injury and overplaying.
“I’m really proud of their effort. You know this is a team who is playing shorthanded. We are playing without our backup five, Destinee McGhee and without Lindsey Dullard, our backup four, who was a starter last year,” Norton said.
UAB will take on UTSA Wednesday, Feb. 23 at 6:00 pm in Bartow Arena.
