The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Women's Basketball Holds Annual Team Banquet
4/26/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
April 24, 2011
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The UAB women's basketball team held its annual banquet on Saturday, handing out team awards and honoring its seniors. Senior guard Amanda Peterson was named Blazer of the Year, given to the team's most valuable player.
Head coach Audra Smith recognized the entire Blazer squad for receiving the Outstanding Citizen Medal, handed out by Mayor William A. Bell, Sr. earlier this month at a city council meeting. The Blazers were honored for winning the 2011 Women's Basketball Invitational and earning their first 20-win season since 2001.
Peterson, who also received the award for the team's Best Conditioned Athlete, earned the team's MVP honor after a record-breaking senior campaign. The Homewood, Ala., native knocked down 103 3-pointers duing the 2010-11 season, setting a Conference USA and school record for treys in a year. In the process, Peterson also hit her 246th career triple, breaking the school record set by Gina Sutko. Peterson finished her career with 319 treys, more than any Blazer basketball player in school history. On the men's side, Andy Kennedy holds the record with 318.
Sophomore guard Amber Jones took home a pair of honors as well, receiving the Best Offense and Academic awards. Jones led the team in scoring at 12.5 points per game and was the team's high scorer in 13 contests this year. She scored double figures in 26 games, including 12 of the final 13. Jones matched her performance on the court in the classroom, maintaining a 3.78 GPA, the highest on the team.
The Best Defense and Highest Free Throw Percentage awards went to junior guard LaShaunda Pratt. Pratt led the team with 64 steals and ranked fourth in league action with 2.6 thefts per game. The Winston-Salem, N.C., native sank 64 of 86 free throws, giving her a team-best 70.9 free throw shooting percentage.
Freshman forward Karisma Chapman was named the Newcomer of the Year after averaging 8.0 points and 5.4 rebounds per game in her first season. A C-USA All-Freshman Team honoree, Chapman posted two double-doubles this year, including one in the WBI championship game with 15 points and 11 rebounds. Overall, the Calumet City, Ill., native collected nine double-digit performances and five double-figure rebounding games.
Junior center Meagan Brown took home the Chairman of the Boards award, while sophomore guard LaKenya Lowe was named the team's unsung hero. Brown averaged 5.5 rebounds per game, collecting 192 boards this season. Lowe was a spark off the bench for the Blazers, coming up with key steals and knocking down crucial jumpers to fulfill her role this season.
