BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Samford senior center Taylor Reece scored 12 points to become just the seventh player in program history to score 1,000 career points, but it was not enough as the Bulldog women's basketball team fell at UAB, 61-41 Monday afternoon at Bartow Arena.
 
Samford held a 27-24 advantage at halftime, but the Blazers opened the third quarter with a 16-3 run to take control of the game.
 
"They did a good job of coming out in the second half after being down and taking it right to us," Samford head coach Mike Morris said. "Our problem was, we didn't have a counter punch. When they came out and said, we're back in this game, we weren't ready for a fight. They got hot and made some shots, and we missed some things that we normally make."
 
Reece now has 1,010 points in her Samford career, moving her into sixth place on Samford's all-time scoring list. She moved ahead of Chelsee Insell, who scored 1,008 points from 2002 to 2006.
 
"Taylor is a special player," Morris said. "I think she has something special ahead of her in the next two or three months. She responded well to not starting, and that was great to see. She's really had an amazing career. She's a special player and an unbelievable person. Her character is off the charts."
 
Behind Reece for Samford, sophomore forward Destiney Elliott scored 11 points and grabbed six rebounds. Amara Mayers added six points for Samford in the loss.
 
For UAB, Chelsee Black scored 16 points to lead the Blazers. Deanna Kuzmanic scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Brittany Winborne had 12 points and 12 rebounds. Keonna Farmer also had 12 points for UAB.
 
In the first quarter, UAB grabbed the early lead, taking a 7-4 advantage with 5:36 to go in the period following two free throws by Farmer. Samford, however, closed the quarter with an 8-2 run to take a 12-9 lead at the end of the first quarter.
 
Samford maintained its lead through most of the second quarter. UAB grabbed a brief 19-17 lead, but Samford scored the next five points to take a 22-19 lead with 4:37 to go following a three-pointer by Elliott. UAB came back to take a 24-23 lead with 2:32 to go in the period, but back-to-back baskets by Elliott gave Samford a 27-24 advantage heading into the locker room at halftime.
 
The Blazers opened the third quarter with a 16-3 run to take a 40-30 lead with 3:50 to go in the period following a layup by Winborne. Samford fought back to close the lead to five points at 42-37 heading into the final period.
 
UAB opened the fourth quarter with an 11-2 run to push its lead to 53-39 with 3:43 left on a basket by Kuzmanic. After Samford cut the lead to 12 points at 53-41, UAB closed the game with an 8-0 run to make the final score 61-41.
 
With the loss, Samford falls to 7-6 on the season. UAB improves to 7-4 with the win.
 
Samford will return to action on Monday, Dec. 28, when the Bulldogs play at LSU. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. start from Baton Rouge, La.