Lady Toppers Bounce Back with Win Against UAB

Thursday, January 9

Bowling Green, Ky.

11 AM

Western Kentucky University

-95,12 CUSA

UAB

-96,12 CUSA

UAB

Western Ky.

Photo by: Steve Roberts, WKU Athletics

1/9/2020 3:18:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Box Score VIDEO: HC Greg Collins Postgame VIDEO: Dee Givens and Alexis Brewer Postgame

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — For the third-straight game, the WKU women's basketball team found itself in a close-fought battle but the Lady Toppers prevailed this time. WKU defeated UAB, 69-65, in front of 5,122 screaming fans attending the Lady Toppers' annual Education Game.

WKU improves to 9-5 overall with the win and 1-2 in Conference USA. UAB falls to 9-6 and 1-2 in conference play.

The Lady Toppers were led by four double-digit scorers. Dee Givens led the way with 14 points along with five rebounds and two assists. Alexis Brewer had her best game of the season, scoring 13 points on 3-of-4 shooting from beyond the arc. Whitney Creech and Meral Abdelgawad each added 12 points. Creech also had six rebounds, six assists and three steals in the game. Abdelgawad pulled down five rebounds. Raneem Elgeday was hampered by foul trouble, playing only 14 minutes, but still crashed the boards for six rebounds.

Elgedawy opened the scoring for the game with a layup and a foul shot to give WKU the first lead of the game. After both teams traded baskets, the Lady Toppers went on a 7-0 run to jump out to an eight-point lead, but the Blazers responded right back with a 10-0 to take a lead of their own. Both of those runs were the biggest of the game for both teams. After UAB took the lead, Brewer knocked down her first 3-pointer of the game to put WKU back ahead. Givens followed Brewer with her first 3-pointer of the game to extend that lead. UAB scored the final four points of the quarter to go into the second period all tied up.

WKU was able to get a three-point edge in the second quarter that proved to be crucial down the stretch in a close game. Brewer connected on two more 3-pointers in the frame and Creech had five points in the quarter.

The third quarter began with a 3-pointer from UAB that knotted the score at 37. Abdelgawad answered back with a jumper in the paint, but the Blazers came right back and tied the game once again. Two possessions later, Elgedawy got a defensive rebound and found Abdelgawad in transition for the go-ahead layup that prompted a 6-0 run by the Lady Toppers. The Blazer didn't go away though, going on a 6-0 run of their own to take a one-point lead with 37 seconds left in the quarter. Givens made good on a clutch corner 3-pointer that gave WKU a 2-point lead going into the final quarter.

Early in the fourth quarter, UAB scored five-straight points to go ahead by one point, but once again WKU came right back down the floor and claimed the lead. This time it was Brewer who made a jumper from the foul line to put WKU ahead for good. The Blazers cut it to two points midway through the quarter, but Abdelgawad connected on a 3-pointer to extend the lead. Then after a made Blazer layup that cut it to three, Creech made good on an and-one opportunity. UAB had a four-point swing with under two minutes left, but the Lady Topper defense stood up any attempt the Blazers had at reclaiming the lead. Up two, Alexis Brewer went to the foul line with three seconds remaining and knocked down both to seal the win.

WKU forced UAB into 18 turnovers, the most the Blazers have turned it over this season. On the other end, the Lady Toppers dished out 14 assists as a team, tying their season high.

The Lady Toppers previously had been in a shooting slump, but seemingly shook it off against the Blazers, shooting 45.8 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range.

WKU will return to the court on Saturday against rival Middle Tennessee. That game is set for a 2 p.m. tipoff in Diddle Arena.

Season tickets and single-game tickets for Lady Topper basketball games are now on sale. Tickets can be purchased online (here) or by calling 1-800-5-BIGRED. Tickets can also be purchased in-person at the WKU Ticket Office located in E.A. Diddle Arena.