The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Fatiha Salaam's Blog :: The Season
3/12/2009 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Dear Blazer Fans,
First I would like to say that I dont want this blog to be sad in any kind of way, but I am here to wrap up our 2008-09 women's basketball season. Unfortunately, we lost in the first round of the C-USA Tournament to East Carolina. We finished the season 10-20. In my opinion, this season was an eye opener. There were alot of games that we lost that were very winnable. Our opponents did not beat us, we ended up beating ourselves. We battled alot of injuries throughout the entire season. I believe out of the 14 girls on the original roster, there were only a good five or six healthy players the whole year.
This season included alot of two-a-days and early 6 a.m. practices, intense conditioning and weight lifting, and had many ups and downs. Our coaching staff scheduled a very challenging schedule and they would not have scheduled us to play some of the top teams in the country and defend some of the top offenses if they did not believe that this young, talented team could do it. I am a competitor and an athlete, and speaking for both my teammates and myself, we are not happy with the way our season ended because we are way better than a 10-20 record and we all know it. One thing that I do believe we have to fix, first as individuals then as a team, is consistency. We must learn to be consistent in everything we do to prepare to have a much improved season next year. This will start in our postseason workouts, over to the summer, and go into the preseason practices. If we complete this task and do it effeciently, I do believe that the 2009-10 women's basketball season will be unbelievable.
Unfortunately, we have to say goodbye to our seniors Britney Jones and Brianna Berry. Britney has contributed alot to this team from her freshman year to her senior year. She has grown as a person, leader and as a basketball player. Brianna Berry faced alot of circumstances her senior year and wasn't able to play the second part of the season, but she also has been a big part of this team and contributed in many different areas. Our seniors will be leaving this team with some big shoes to fill, especially Britney Jones.
However, our coaching staff has signed some eager freshmen to come into the system next year, who I believe will be major contributors from the first game of the season to the last. These freshmen are ready to start their collegiate career and help us become winners. Fans, be on the look out for us next year. We will be a very young team again, but with all the youth, there will also be alot of talent and energy.
Blazer Fans, I end this 2008-09 season blog upset with our record because in my mind, we were a much better team than that. But, do not lose hope or faith in us and please keep in contact with our program. Next year will be a very interesting year and I promise you that the 2009-10 UAB Women's Basketball season is something that you will not want to miss. Please continue supporting the UAB Women's Basketball team. We really appreciate everything that our fans have done for us.
Thank you for all your support!
#32 Fatiha Salaam
