BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — The UAB Blazers used a dominant first-quarter offensive explosion and a record-setting three-point shooting performance to secure an 80-56 victory over the visiting Alabama A&M Bulldogs in a non-conference women’s basketball game Wednesday night at Bartow Arena.

The game was effectively decided in the opening period, as UAB raced out to a 28-9 lead. The Blazers were nearly flawless from beyond the arc in the first quarter, setting a blistering pace that the Bulldogs could not counter. UAB’s offensive efficiency was a stark contrast to Alabama A&M’s early struggles, which included numerous turnovers and difficulty finding any scoring rhythm.

UAB’s offensive catalyst was Cali Smallwood, a guard from Blountsville, Alabama, who torched the nets for a game-high 29 points. Smallwood’s scoring outburst was fueled by a remarkable shooting display from three-point range, a theme for the entire Blazers squad on the night.

While the Blazers’ offense cooled slightly in the second quarter, their defense maintained pressure, holding Alabama A&M to just 14 points and taking a 41-23 lead into halftime. The Bulldogs showed more fight after the break, but each time they attempted to build momentum, UAB had an answer, often in the form of another three-pointer.

The Blazers finished the game shooting an astounding 13 for 21 from three-point range, a 61.9 percent clip that proved to be the primary difference. In contrast, Alabama A&M managed to connect on only 2 of its 12 attempts from deep.

Sofia Munoz of UAB was the engine of the offense, directing play with precision from her point guard position. The native of Canovanas, Puerto Rico, dished out eight assists to go along with 16 points, consistently breaking down the Bulldogs’ defense and creating opportunities for her teammates.

For Alabama A&M, the offensive burden fell heavily on Coriah Beck and Maori Davenport. Beck, a guard from Memphis, Tennessee, led the Bulldogs with 19 points, while Davenport, a 6-foot-5 post player from Troy, Alabama, controlled the paint with 17 points, seven rebounds and three blocked shots.

Despite the individual efforts of Beck and Davenport, the Bulldogs were plagued by inefficiency and ball security issues throughout the contest. Alabama A&M shot just 15 for 43 from the floor and committed 27 turnovers, which UAB converted into 25 points. The Blazers also shared the ball effectively, tallying 15 assists compared to eight for the Bulldogs, and matched that number with 15 steals as a team.

Other key contributors for UAB included Eleecia Carter, who scored 11 points, and Molly Moffitt, who added nine points. The Blazers’ balanced attack and superior ball movement kept the Alabama A&M defense scrambling for all four quarters.

The victory improved UAB’s season record to 1-2, providing a positive rebound after losses to West Alabama and South Alabama to open the season. Alabama A&M also moved to 1-2, having split its first two games with a lopsided win over Talladega and a loss to Mississippi.

UAB will look to build on the win when it travels to face Chattanooga on Sunday. Alabama A&M continues a challenging early-season road stretch with a game at Alabama on Monday.