Dec. 21, 2001

Box Score

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - UAB out-rebounded Samford 62-27 to take an 84-58 victory in the opening game of the Lady Blazer Classic at Bartow Arena Friday night.

The Lady Blazers had three players finish the game with double-figures in both points and rebounds as UAB had more offensive rebounds than the Bulldogs had total rebounds. Deanna Jackson lead the way for the Lady Blazers with 28 points and 18 rebounds, Shaquetta Rhodes scored 18 points, mostly on offensive put-backs and grabbed 11 rebounds, and Natasha Thomas scored 12 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as UAB improved to 7-3 on the season.

Samford dropped its fifth-straight game to fall to 1-6 on the year. Clarissa Clark had a solid performance in defeat by scoring a team-high 17 points on 6-11 shooting. Clark was 3-5 from behind the three-point line. Giovanni Price was in double-figures for the sixth time this season with 12 points. Sarah Clement and Jennifer East each finished with eight points for the Bulldogs who matched a season-high with nine three-pointers on the evening.

"We didn't box out well tonight and it killed us," said Samford Head Coach Janet Cone. "I thought we played well at times, CC (Clarissa Clark) had a nice game, but we have to rebound and our shooters have to look for shots."

The Bulldogs came out with intensity as Price hit her first shot of the game and Clement hit a three-pointer to give Samford a 5-2 lead early. UAB then went on a 14-5 run to take a 16-10 lead but the Bulldogs battled back to 18-15 with 12:23 remaining in the opening period. UAB went on a 17-5 run over the next seven minutes aided by second chance opportunities to take a 35-20 lead at the 5:47 mark. The Lady Blazers led 46-24 at halftime.

In the second half UAB led by as many as 28 when Samford went on a 21-8 run. Clark began the run with back-to-back tree pointers and the Bulldogs pulled to within 15 points at 61-46 with 8:57 remaining but that is as close as Samford could get.

Along the rebounding differential the free throw numbers were one sided. UAB went to the charity stripe 30 times while Samford went to the line just 11 times. The Lady Blazers made 19-30 for 63 percent while the Bulldogs were 7-11 also 63 percent. Samford had a season low 15 turnovers in the game but the 27 rebounds were also a season low. Samford was right on its season average in field goal percentage going 21-60 from the floor for 35 percent. UAB

Samford will face the loser of the late game between Birmingham-Southern and Austin Peay at 3 p.m. on Saturday while UAB awaits the winner at 5 p.m. Samford's game can be heard on WVSU 91.1 in Birmingham and world wide at www.samfordsports.com.