Troy Drops Tight Contest to UAB in WNIT

Thursday, March 21

Troy, Ala.

6 p.m.

Troy University

22-9

UAB

26-6

UAB

Troy

3/21/2019 10:08:00 PM | Basketball (W)

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By: Troy Athletics Communications

TROY, Alabama – In a wire-to-wire, back-and-forth affair UAB came out on top, 93-89, in the first round of the Women's National Invitation Tournament Thursday in Trojan Arena.

The game saw 26 lead changes and eight players finish in double figures as the Blazers (26-6) went on a 13-5 run to end the game and advance to the second round.

After a 7-0 run in the fourth quarter, Troy (22-9) led 84-77 with 3:35 to play. UAB then hit three straight baskets, including a pair of three-pointers, to kick start an 14-2 run and take a 91-86 advantage. Harriett Winchester knocked down a three with two seconds to play, but time ran out on the Trojans as UAB iced the game with a pair of free throws.

In front of a Troy women's record crowd of 2,451 fans, neither team separated itself throughout the course of the game as each squad only led by as many as seven during the contest. Troy shot 41 percent (34-83) for the game and 61.5 percent (8-13) in the final quarter, while UAB converted 52.2 percent (36-69) of its shots.

Jasmine LeBlanc turned in a near-career day with 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting, one point off her single game-best of 24 against Old Dominion when she was with Louisiana Tech. LeBlanc also turned in eight rebounds and four steals. The junior scored in double figures in six of the final 11 games of the year.

Katelynn Thomas was 12-of-17 from the field to finish with a game-high 25 points, while Deanna Kuzmanic had 22. Imani Johnson added 17 points and six boards and Angela Vendrell chipped in with 15 points and 13 rebounds.

Junior guard Kayla Robinson returned to form turning in 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting. Japonica James was a rebound shy of a double-double with 16 points and nine boards. Amber Rivers was the fourth Trojan in double digits with 11 points to go along with eight rebounds.

Troy says goodbye to three seniors, Sky'Lynn Holmes, Shaterrika O'Neal and Amahni Upshaw, but returns three starters and 82.4 percent of its offensive output.

QUOTABLE
"The team showed so much fight and this was a great game for women's basketball in general," Troy head coach Chanda Rigby said. "There were relatively low mistakes shooting, 100 percent effort, good strategies on both sides executed by player who were all dialed in and didn't want their season to end. I'm proud for that, but I'm heartbroken for the season to end for my team who I love dearly and that represent Troy so well."

NOTEWORTHY
• Troy's 22 wins are tied for the second-most in program history. The 1996-97 team finished with 23 wins.

• The meeting was the 11^thbetween Troy and UAB.

• Troy finished the season with a Sun Belt-best 1,435 average attendance.

For more information on Troy women's basketball, visit TroyTrojans.com or follow the team on Twitter at @TroyTrojansWBB.