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RUSTON ââ'¬" For three quarters on Sunday afternoon, Louisiana Tech held one of the nation's top three-point shooting teams in check.

However, with the game on the line at the Thomas Assembly Center, UAB (19-3, 8-1 C-USA) hit four three-pointers in the final quarter, including back-to-back ones by Imani Johnson and Miyah Barnes with less than two minutes to play to pull out a 66-61 win over Louisiana Tech (14-9, 5-5).

Tech led 58-54 after a layup by Alexus Malone with 2:14 to play and was in positon to pull off a big Conference USA win over a Blazers team that entered the game having won 11 of its last 12 contests.

However, the Lady Techsters saw the win slip away late.

Johnson hit only her third three-pointer of the year with 1:56 to play to cut the deficit to 58-57 and following a turnover by the Lady Techsters on the ensuing possession, Barnes drained a wide open three-pointer ââ'¬" her third of the fourth quarter ââ'¬" with 1:12 remaining to give UAB the lead.

After another empty possession by Tech, Barnes hit 1 of 2 free throws to push the Blazers advantage to 61-58. Following a timeout, Tech guard Kierra Anthony got an open look for the game-tying three-pointer from the far left corner, but it came up short and UAB pulled down the rebound. The Blazers would hit 5-of-6 free throws in the final 18 seconds to seal the win.

Tech got off to a quick start, shooting 54 percent from the field in the first quarter and taking a 19-12 lead through 10 minutes of play. However, Tech hit only 2 of its next 19 field goal attempts spanning the second quarter and the first six minutes of the third quarter.

Despite the offensive drought, UAB led only 34-31 before Tech used an 8-0 run to take a 41-40 lead into the fourth quarter.

UAB dominated the glass, outrebounding Tech 44-31, including pulling down 14 offensive rebounds that led to 15 second chance points.

The Blazers, who entered the game ranked No. 2 in the country in three-point field goal percentage, hit just 2-of-16 through three quarters before hitting 4-of-5 in the final 10 minutes.

Malone and Anthony led Tech with 17 points.

Tech returns to action Wednesday when the Lady Techsters host Rice at 6:30 p.m.