BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — The UAB women’s basketball team used a strong first half and a stifling defensive fourth quarter to defeat Samford 65-49 on Monday afternoon at Bartow Arena. The Blazers built a 38-28 halftime lead and held the Bulldogs to just five points in the final period to secure the win. UAB improved to 7-5 overall, while Samford fell to 6-9. Sofia Munoz led UAB with 13 points, four rebounds and four assists. Molly Moffitt added 14 points and five rebounds. Samford was paced by Kaylee Yarbrough’s 13 points. An announced crowd of 356 attended the nonconference game.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — The UAB women’s basketball team used a dominant first quarter and a balanced scoring attack to secure a 65-49 victory over crosstown foe Samford on Monday afternoon at Bartow Arena. The Blazers improved to 7-5 on the season, while the Bulldogs fell to 6-9. UAB established control from the opening tip, outscoring Samford 21-14 in the first period. The Blazers’ defense was particularly disruptive early, converting Samford turnovers into transition opportunities. Sofia Munoz, a guard from Canovanas, Puerto Rico, set the tone with seven points in the quarter, including a three-pointer that gave UAB a 10-6 lead they would not relinquish. Samford, which entered the game having won two of its last three, struggled to find consistent offense outside of the paint, where they scored 26 of their points. The Bulldogs kept the contest within reach through three quarters, trailing 54-44 heading into the final period, but a catastrophic offensive drought sealed their fate. Samford managed only five points in the fourth quarter on 2-of-15 shooting from the field. The most important stretch of the game came in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter, as UAB extinguished any lingering hope of a Samford comeback. Leading 54-44, the Blazers opened the final period with an 11-2 run over the first six minutes, holding the Bulldogs without a field goal for nearly five minutes. The run was punctuated by a Cali Smallwood three-pointer off an assist from Eleecia Carter, pushing the UAB lead to 65-46 with 5:07 remaining and effectively putting the game out of reach. Samford’s offense never recovered from that decisive stretch. Munoz led all scorers with 13 points for UAB, adding four rebounds and four assists in 35 minutes. She was one of five Blazers to finish in double figures, highlighting the team’s distributed offensive effort. Molly Moffitt of Seattle contributed 14 points, five rebounds and three assists. Monae Duffy of Lafayette, Louisiana, posted a strong all-around line with 13 points, eight rebounds and two blocks. Carter, from Winter Garden, Florida, filled the stat sheet with 11 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Smallwood, a local product from Blountsville, Alabama, chipped in 12 points and six rebounds. Samford was led by Kaylee Yarbrough of New Hope, Alabama, who scored 13 points off the bench, including seven in the third quarter to keep her team within striking distance. Aubrey Blankenship of Mount Juliet, Tennessee, added 10 points and seven rebounds. Sierra Godbolt of Orlando, Florida, finished with nine points and four assists. UAB’s defense was a key factor, forcing 15 Samford turnovers and converting them into 10 points. The Blazers also out-rebounded the Bulldogs 42-35. While both teams had difficulties from three-point range, UAB’s ability to generate higher-percentage shots and capitalize on Samford’s cold spells proved decisive. The game was played before a sparse crowd of 356 at Bartow Arena. According to National Statistical’s ELO system, UAB entered the contest with an 81.20 percent probability to win. UAB will look to build on the win as it opens American Athletic Conference play on the road at East Carolina on Dec. 30. Samford concludes its non-conference schedule with a challenging road game at Mississippi State on Dec. 28 before beginning Southern Conference play.

Preview: Samford Bulldogs at UAB Blazers BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — City rivals Samford and UAB will meet in a nonconference women’s basketball game Monday afternoon at Bartow Arena. The UAB Blazers (6-5) enter with momentum, having won three of their last four games, including an 86-62 rout of Mississippi Valley State on Saturday. The Blazers have been strong at home this season, boasting a 5-1 record in Birmingham. The Samford Bulldogs (6-8) snapped a three-game skid with a 65-59 home victory over Lipscomb on Thursday. The Bulldogs have struggled on the road, going 2-6 away from home this season. A key matchup will feature Samford guard Sierra Godbolt against UAB’s Cali Smallwood. Godbolt is coming off a season-high 15-point performance against Lipscomb and has averaged 11.2 points over her last five games. For UAB, Smallwood has been a consistent offensive force, scoring in double figures in five straight contests. She poured in a season-best 19 points in a win over Southern Illinois on Dec. 3 and leads the Blazers in scoring during this recent stretch. Both teams have faced challenging early schedules. Samford’s eight losses include defeats to power-conference opponent Minnesota and a tough road loss at Tennessee Tech. UAB’s setbacks have come against teams like TCU and Southern Miss. This game serves as a final tune-up before conference play begins for both programs in January. Samford will open Southern Conference action in early January, while UAB will embark on its American Athletic Conference schedule. Historically, UAB has dominated the series, winning 21 of the 27 all-time meetings between the programs. The Blazers have won the last four matchups, including a 72-50 victory in the most recent meeting on Dec. 21, 2022. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. EST Monday at Bartow Arena.