Miles got a second opportunity to play a Division I exhibition this season on Sunday when it took a small trip across town to take on Alabama-Birmingham. While UAB led the entire game and ultimately grabbed a 72-52 win, the Lady Bears acquitted themselves very nicely, outscoring the Blazers in both the second and fourth quarters.

UAB opened the game by hitting five of its first seven shots to open a 15-3 lead just more than three minutes into the contest. Even when the Blazers would miss, offensive rebounds allowed for second opportunities to score and they took full advantage. On the opposite end, Miles struggled with everything from poor shooting to turnovers that put it in a big hole. Star guard Camryn London seemed to be the focus of the UAB defense, which consistently bumped and banged her every time she made a move toward the basket. After one too many body blows - with no calls from the officials - her day was finished with just two points in 11 minutes.

The Lady Bears trailed 26-9 at the end of the first quarter but came alive in the second. Trailing by 19 points a minute into the period, Miles scored nine straight points, aided by two Markisha Body 3-pointers that brought the team to within 28-18. UAB made only four buckets the entire quarter but they were all layups as the Lady Bears had trouble defending the interior. But when Jakera Ellerbee scored with less than a minute to go, Miles trailed just 36-25, which was the score at the half.

The third quarter, though, looked much like the first quarter, which was not good for the Lady Bears. UAB shot 57 percent from the field and all but two of its 20 points came from in the paint or at the free throw line. Conversely, Miles struggled for the entire 10 minutes, missing 14-of-18 shots from the field and turning it over four times as the Blazers led by 22 points heading to the final quarter.

But Miles still battled into the final period. The Lady Bears started the quarter with a 3-ball from Tomesia Staten, the got two more from Breah McGrady as they outscored UAB 12-4 over the first five minutes to trail just 60-46. That would be as close as Miles would get as UAB pushed the lead back out to 22 points before Alana Gibbs scored at the horn for the final margin.

Zakyia Weathersby scored 15 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead UAB. McGrady had 12 points and five rebounds to pace the Lady Bears, who also got contributions from Deresia Randle (seven points, seven rebounds)  and Imani Williams (three points, seven rebounds, three assists). Miles is back in action on Thursday when it travels to face Clark Atlanta on Thursday in a non-conference tilt. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m.