Women's Basketball Defeats UAB, 65-42

Jan. 14, 2002

Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The first five minutes of the second half belonged to Marquette as it extended a two-point halftime lead to 14 in a 65-42 win over UAB at Bartow Arena in Birmingham. Marquette improves to 9-7 and 2-1 in C-USA play. UAB now has a five game losing streak and is 8-8 and 0-3 in conference play.

During Marquette's 16-2 run to open the second half, junior center Rachel Klug (Cedar Grove, Wis.) scored six of her team-high 20 points. The Golden Eagles denied UAB good looks to the basket as it held the Blazers to 22.6 shooting percentage in the second half. Marquette continued to extend the lead throughout the second half, leading by as many as 23 points.

Junior guard Rashida Gales (Burnsville, Minn.) provided an additional offensive spark in the second half, scoring all 10 of her points in the half. It was the fifth straight game in which Gales has scored 10 points or more. Junior forward Kristin Seffern provided 12 rebounds to Marquette's cause.

The Golden Eagles took care of the ball much better against UAB than they did in their previous win over South Florida. Marquette turned over the ball 13 times against the Blazers as opposed to 29 against South Florida.

Defensively, Marquette was as good as it has been all season. MU held the Blazers' leading active scorer, Natasha Thomas, scoreless. She averaged 17.8 points per game heading into the contest. Michelle Smith led the way for UAB with 13 points.

The Golden Eagles went into the halftime break up two, 22-20, after senior center Sarah Zawodny (Beavercreek, Ohio) scored on an aggressive move to the basket with five seconds left in the half.

The first half Marquette lead could have been greater. The MU defense held the Blazers without a field goal for the final 7:23 of the half. The Blazers' three free throws were the only points down the stretch in the first half, but the UAB defense kept Marquette in check for most of that stretch as well. Marquette was only able to score two free throws from the 6:30 mark until 45 seconds left in the half.

The first 12 minutes of the half belonged to Rachel Klug. She scored her team high 10 points at the half by that mark. Michelle Smith led the way for UAB with five points at the half.

The Golden Eagles next play on Friday, Jan. 18 against Saint Louis at 7 p.m. at the Wisconsin Lutheran Field House in Wauwatosa, Wis.