Leonardo Carrubba – Sports Editor
[email protected]
After falling to Auburn University 85-71 on Friday, Nov. 13, the UAB Women’s Basketball team traveled to Nashville, Tenn. Sunday to play the Belmont University Bruins.
The Bruins were coming off a convincing 80-31 win over Young Harris College. Entering the night, UAB led the series 2-0. This was the first time the two teams had met since 2010, and it was the first time UAB traveled to the Curb Event Center to play the Bruins.
The Bruins came out of the gate scoring and took an early lead until sophomore guard T’erra Lewis had a three-pointer with just over two minutes left in the first quarter to tie the game at 11. The Blazers did not allow any points in the paint through the first quarter, and they led by as much as 14 points in the second quarter. It was part of a 19-0 Blazer run that lasted more than seven minutes.
With thirty seconds left in the half, Belmont cut the lead to nine points. Blazers called a timeout to set up a play. Garland got the ball and hit a three to extend the lead to 12 points. At the end of the half, it seemed UAB’s physicality would be the story of the game. The Blazers led 24-4 in the paint and 25-14 in total rebounds. That domination inside allowed for a 38-26 lead at the half.
“I really like the way our bench came in, and I thought they gave us a great pickup. They brought an energy,” Norton told Bruin Sports Network sideline reporter Hayley Lewis at the half. “Belmont is very skilled, and they’re all capable of knocking shots down.”
UAB did not shy away from physical play in the second half. The Blazers used backcourt pressure to force a turnover with less than six minutes left in the third quarter. However, they were unable to turn it into points, and after a three point shot from Bruins freshman Darby Maggard, the Bruins found themselves down by one with only two and a half minutes left in the third. UAB slowed Belmont’s advance late in the quarter and started the fourth quarter with a six-point lead.
With four minutes left in the game, the Blazers were up only two points and working the perimeter to find an open shot. They found it when Dy’man Webb netted a two-point basket to extend the lead back to four. However, the Bruins found an answer after a foul from Keonna Farmer in the last minute. Kylee Smith had a three-pointer to tie the game for the Bruins. Another foul on Farmer put Belmont’s Lauren Thompson on the line for two. The last one was good to put Belmont ahead 63-62 with 15 seconds left in the game. The Bruins played tight defense on UAB’s inbound, but senior guard Bianca Dufelmeier managed to make a shot as time expired. After an official review the officials confirmed the call on the court and waved off the basket. The Blazers fell to 0-2 loss.
UAB played a physical game for 40 minutes, but rebounds and inside points were not enough. The Blazers had trouble converting their 19 offensive rebounds into just eight second chance points. Winborne had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Farmer was two rebounds shy with 22 points. However, Black had an off-night going 1-8 with four points and two rebounds.
The UAB Women’s Basketball team will host South Carolina State on Friday at 11:30 a.m.
