BOXSCORE

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Junior guard Rachel Butler (Dallas, Texas/Lincoln HS) tallied a team-high15 points, but it wasn’t enough as the Lady Pirates subsequently fell to UAB, 66-47, in the championship game of the 2006 Blazer Invitational.

After jumping out to as much as a seven point lead during the first half, the Blazers entered halftime with a 33-28 edge over the Pirates. UAB shot 55.0 percent during the first 20 minutes compared to Hampton’s 23.5 percent, but the Blazers countered their shooting with 16 first-half turnovers.

UAB looked to be holding all of the momentum early in the first half, extending its lead to eight, 38-30, on a lay-up by Diamond Rogers with 13:28 remaining in the game. At the 12:50 mark, the Lady Pirates started a 9-0 run that would give them a one-point lead over UAB, 39-38, with 10:04 on the clock.
That is when the Blazers began to take charge of the game, taking their first double-digit lead of the night at the 5:13 mark when a layup by Carmen Guzman put UAB up by 10, 53-43. The Blazers hung on to their lead and left Bartow Arena with its third consecutive victory and the tournament title.
Butler and Artavia Burns (Dallas, Texas/ Lincoln HS) garnered all-tournament honors.

Guzman was honored as the tournament MVP after racking up 42 points over two games, along with 11 assists, 10 rebounds and eight steals.

Next up for the Lady Pirates is a visit to Radford, Va. on December 31 to face Radford University in a New Year’s Eve showdown at 3 p.m.