Box Score - UAB 53, South Alabama 39 (.pdf)Post Game QuotesPhoto GalleryMOBILE, Ala. – The University of South Alabama women's basketball team recorded its second-lowest offensive output of the season and UAB held a 19-rebound advantage Sunday afternoon as the Jaguars suffered a 53-39 loss to the Blazers at the Mitchell Center.
USA (2-4) finished 15-of-46 from the field for the game for 32.6 percent, while the Blazers held a 46-27 advantage on the glass. UAB also recorded 11 offensive rebounds and limited South Alabama to just one offensive board. The Blazers turned those extra possessions into 13 points and held a plus-10 advantage in second-chance points.
"We came out pretty good," South Alabama head coach Terry Fowler said. "I think we got a little flat in the middle of the second quarter, and that carried over into the third quarter. Offensive rebounds were huge. UAB came in and that was their strength. They did a great job with that. We just can't, for whatever reason, make shots. It is deflating. You get a layup at the basket, it doesn't go and then it just keeps rolling over.
"The same thing happened at the free-throw line as well. We talked about the lack of scoring, the fact that our defense has been pretty good, but if we're not going to score then there the defense has to be even better. When you come into a game and give up 53, you like your chances. We just have to be able to put the ball in the basket to relieve some of the pressure on the defensive end of the floor."
The Jags knocked down just seven of their 25 shot attempts in the first half for 28 percent shooting. South Alabama was also just 3-for-13 at the foul line, while UAB ended the contest 14-for-21 at the stripe.
South Alabama will now hosts William Carey on Tuesday night with tip-off versus the Crusaders set for 7 p.m. Live stats and web streaming for the contest can be accessed at www.USAJaguars.com. Fans can also keep up with in-match updates by following action on the program's twitter account @SouthALWBB.
Erin Autio came off the bench to record a career-high 16 points, 10 of which coming in the second half. Autio was 6-of-11 from the floor, including 4-for-8 from the three-point line. Autio also pulled down five rebounds in 29 minutes of action. LaNeetra Guillory added eight points, while Colby Davis chipped in with six.
UAB (5-4) placed three players in double figures. Deanna Kuzmanic led the club with 20 points on 8-of-20 shooting. Brittany Winborne fifth-career double-double with 12 points and 15 rebounds. Of her 15 rebounds, 12 came on the defensive glass. Keonna Farmer also ended the game in double digits with 10 points.
The Blazers led by four early on in the contest, but Autio helped South Alabama ended a three-plus minute scoreless drought as she drained a three-pointer from the left wing with just under six minutes remaining. Two minutes later, Autio again connected from the outside to put USA back out in front. On South Alabama's next possession, Guillory gave USA four-point lead of its own (10-6).
That basket though would be South Alabama's last points for the next eight-plus minutes. During that time, UAB would take advantage and rattled off a 12-0 run. USA would also miss its 12 shot attempts during that stretch.
Maya Garland ended a four-plus minute offensive drought for the Blazers and ignited the 12-0 UAB run with a steal and layup at the 2:26 mark of the first quarter. With just over a minute to go, Whytney Singleton knocked down UAB's first three-pointer of the contest, this one coming from the right corner with one minute, 12 seconds showing on the clock. Kuzmanic, who had six of the Blazers' 13 first-quarter points, knocked down a jumper with 20 seconds remaining to extend the visitor's advantage to 13-10 after the first 10 minutes of action.
With South Alabama continuing to struggle at the offensive end, the Blazers scored the first five points of the second period and took an 18-10 lead on a bucket by Winborne at the 6:29 mark of the second quarter.
Juliann Miller hit one of two at the line at the 5:32 mark of the second quarter to end the scoreless streak for the Jaguars and on their next possession, Guillory scored the club's first field goal in nearly nine minutes of action.
The Jaguar defense helped South Alabama hang around over the next few minutes. Jennifer Towne, seeing her first action of the season, cut the Blazer lead to 20-15 with a layup with less than two to go in the period.
After missing six of its first seven free throw attempts in the contest, UAB's final three points of the opening half would come at the foul line. With 57.6 showing on the clock, Winborne sank a pair at the foul line to increase the Blazer advantage to 23-15, but on South Alabama's final possession, Miller threaded the needed with a beautiful pass through traffic in the lane and found Genesis Perrymond open for a layup to cut the deficit to six.
Singleton's three-pointer at the buzzer from the right side was off the mark and UAB headed into the locker room with a 23-17 lead.
Both clubs struggled to find the range in the second quarter as they each had just three made field goals and were a combined 6-of-26 from the floor.
South Alabama's offensive struggles continued at the start of the second half as the Jaguars were scoreless on their first four possessions. UAB again took advantage and opened the third quarter with 9-0 run to extend its lead out to double figures. Kuzmanic began the scoring with a three-pointer and a jumper. The freshman would scored 10 of her 20 points during the third period of play. After another basket by WInborne, Farmer connected with just over seven minutes remaining to give UAB a 15-point advantage at 32-17.
On South Alabama's ensuing possession, Perrymond knocked down South Alabama's third trey of the afternoon and Davis
The Blazers didn't led the Jaguars hold the momentum long though as they rattled off another run to take their largest lead of the contest to that point at 42-24. Kuzmanic and Kayla Anderson combined for all but two of UAB's points during the 10-2 run to close the third period.
South Alabama was just 3-of-11 from the field in the third with five turnovers, while UAB, led by Kuzmanic, was 6-of-14 in the frame, and led by 18 heading into the fourth period.
Autio attempted to spark a Jaguar rally during the final 10 minutes of action. The redshirt freshman drained a trey from the top of the key on USA's second possession and later connected from the right corner to cut the deficit to 48-36 with just under three to play. Autio scored all 10 of her second-half points in the fourth quarter and was 4-of-6 from the field.
It wouldn't be enough though as the Blazers held on to take the 14-point victory.
USA had its opportunities to draw closer during the final period of play, getting to the foul line nine times, but the Jags converted just two of those attempts. Conversely, UAB was 10-of-11 at the charity stripe in the period.
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
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