BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (Interstat) — A dominant third-quarter surge propelled the UAB women’s basketball team to an 81-69 victory over Texas-San Antonio in an American Athletic Conference game Tuesday night at Bartow Arena.

The Blazers, who led by just five points at halftime, outscored the Roadrunners 27-14 in the decisive third period to seize control. UAB shot a blistering 11 of 17 from the field in the quarter while forcing six Texas-San Antonio turnovers, turning a 32-27 halftime edge into a commanding 59-41 lead entering the final frame.

UAB’s offensive efficiency was the story of the night. The Blazers shot 55.6% from the field overall and 42.9% from three-point range, scoring 81 points on just 76 possessions for an offensive rating of 106.4. Texas-San Antonio, by contrast, managed only a 92.4 offensive rating, shooting 41.5% from the floor and 26.9% from deep.

Molly Moffitt led a balanced UAB attack with 19 points and four assists. Cali Smallwood added 15 points, while Journey Armstead and Sofia Munoz each scored 13. Munoz also dished out a game-high seven assists. Eleecia Carter finished with 12 points and five assists for the Blazers.

Texas-San Antonio was led by Ereauna Hardaway’s 17 points and five assists. Cheyenne Rowe contributed 16 points and Idara Udo added 12 points off the bench, but the Roadrunners could not overcome their 17 turnovers and UAB’s hot shooting.

The game began as a defensive struggle, with UAB holding a narrow 15-14 lead after the first quarter. The Blazers extended the margin slightly in the second, taking a 32-27 advantage into the locker room. The third-quarter explosion, however, rendered the Roadrunners’ late push moot. Texas-San Antonio outscored UAB 28-22 in the fourth quarter but never got the deficit back to single digits.

UAB’s ball security and shot-making proved critical. Despite committing 20 turnovers, the Blazers assisted on nine of their 30 made field goals and capitalized on their opportunities, making 12 of 15 free throws. Texas-San Antonio won the battle on the offensive glass, grabbing 13 rebounds to UAB’s five, but the Roadrunners’ 10 assists against 17 turnovers underscored their offensive struggles.

With the win, UAB improved to 9-13 overall. The Blazers will travel to face Florida Atlantic on Saturday. Texas-San Antonio fell to 10-11 and will visit Tulsa on Saturday. The announced attendance at Bartow Arena was 407.