Dec. 29, 2001

Box Score

MIAMI, Fla. - Behind 51.9 percent shooting from the floor, 46.4 percent shooting from three-point range, 83.3 percent shooting from the free throw line and four players scoring in double digits, Ball State (8-3) topped UAB (8-5) 77-68 in the consolation round of the FIU Fun and Sun Classic.

The Lady Blazers took a deep blow in the first half as All-American candidate Deanna Jackson went down with an injury and was forced to leave the game at the 7:14 mark. Jackson still managed to collect her 11th straight double figure scoring game before leaving the contest, posting 11 points.

Ball State was deadly from three-point territory, shooting 42.9 percent in the first half and 50 percent in the second. The Cardinals held UAB to 20 percent shooting from three-point range for the game.

"We shot even except for the three-point shot," said UAB Head Coach Jeannie Milling. "I thought Ball State did a great job of running their offense and shooting the three."

Johna Goff was especially potent from beyond the three-point arc, hitting five of her seven three-point attempts. She led all scorers with 24 points.

"She's (Johna Goff) an outstanding three-point shooter with a lot of confidence and guts," Milling added. That's what got us off to a horrible start, their great three-point shooting. And that's what, in the end, won them the game."

Ball State got out to an early 3-1 lead in the first half and stayed on top of the Lady Blazers for the majority of the half. The Cardinals used a 12-0 run, starting at the 15:35 mark of the first half to improve their lead to 18 at 27-9 with 11:41 remaining in the half.

UAB answered, using a 14-0 run to cut the lead to four with 8:30 remaining in the first half. The teams then traded baskets for the remainder of the half, however UAB was able to tie the score at 38 apiece after Chantell Thomas hit a field goal at the buzzer.

The Lady Blazers jumped out to an early 40-38 lead in the second half on a bucket by Natasha Thomas at the 18:46 mark. Goff answered with a three-pointer for Ball State with 18:42 remaining to play and the Cardinals never relinquished the lead from that point on.

Kate Endress had 14 points and Tamara Bowie and Jessica Reiter each scored 12 points for Ball State.

UAB also had three other players score in double figures, led by Natasha Thomas, who posted her ninth double-double of the season with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Michelle Smith scored 15 points and Shaquetta Rhodes added 10.

"I think there were a lot of good things that came out of that game for our team," Milling said. "Our team is very, very young. We lost our team leader (Deanna Jackson) and we had people come off the bench who contributed and contributed well."

Jackson was named to the All-Tournament Team. Against Boston College, Jackson recorded her eighth double-double of the season with 25 points and 11 rebounds.

UAB next travels to Tampa, Fla. Jan. 6 to open up Conference USA play against South Florida.