The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Women’s Basketball Season Preview: The Seniors
10/22/2018 6:53:00 PM | Women's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM – With eight days remaining until the UAB women's basketball team opens its 2018-19 season in an exhibition game against Miles College, we take our final look at this year's squad. The week it is about the seniors.
"Deanna and Maya have both impacted our program from the first day they stepped on campus as freshmen," head coach Randy Norton said. "They have been instrumental in building the championship culture we have today and are great ambassadors for UAB. They only know one way to play and that is as hard as they can every time they step on the court. Both are special in their own right and more than anything the team is the most important to thing to them."
Deanna Kuzmanic | Guard | Mount Prospect, Ill.
A Preseason All-Conference USA selection, Kuzmanic enters her final season having started all 95 games of her career. She was an All-C-USA First Team selection in 2018-19 after she led the Blazers in scoring with 13.9 points per contest, and helped set the program record for most 3-pointers made in a season as she hit 63 from long range. Kuzmanic etched her name into the record books as she became the 28th member of UAB's 1,000-point club with a 35 point career-best performance against Louisiana Tech. Entering her senior year she has 1,116 career points, the 23rd most in program history. Additionally, the Mount Prospect, Ill., native claimed a spot on the C-USA All-Academic Team as she became one of four players in program history to earn a berth on the All-Academic Team and one of three players to earn the award twice.
As a sophomore in 2016-17, Kuzmanic was one of just two players to start every game, averaging 9.0 points per contest and a team-high 34.1 minutes per game. She was a perfect 6-of-6 from long range against South Alabama, becoming the fourth player in UAB history to shoot 100 percent from the three (min. four attempts), while she tied the school record for 3-pointers made in a game. Her efforts in the classroom landed her a spot on the C-USA All-Academic Team and earned her the C-USA Spirit of Service Award.
Kuzmanic made an immediate impact as a freshman during the 2015-16 season as she was one of five student-athletes named to the C-USA All-Freshman Team and she became the eighth Blazer to earn the award. She sank 74 triples during the season, averaging 2.4 treys per contest, the 10th most by a freshman in the NCAA that season. Kuzmanic paced the Blazers' offense 11 times, netting double figures 22 times.
Norton on Kuzmanic:
"Deanna represents our program in a first-class manner in everything she does. In the classroom she is a 4.0 student, on the court she is a captain and First-Team All-Conference player. She is the first to be willing to represent our program out in the community and is an amazing role model for everyone she comes in contact with. It has been fun to watch her grow into the leader she is today. As a freshman she led by example and the last two years she has become a very vocal leader as well. She is extremely fun to coach."
Maya Garland | Guard | River Forest, Ill.
Garland appeared in 23 games as a redshirt junior, after missing the previous season because of an injury. She helped the team to program records for wins (27) and conference wins (13). Garland netted a career-best seven points against Alabama A&M.
As a sophomore for the 2015-16 season, she saw action in 21 contests and drew her first career start at Florida Atlantic. The guard netted a season-best six points on two occasions, while scoring in nine contests and secured a rebound in 12 games. Garland dished out a career-high five assists against Eastern Illinois and reeled in a career-best nine rebounds at South Alabama.
Garland saw limited action as a freshman during the 2014-15 season. She scored her first career points with a triple against North Texas.
Norton on Garland:
"Maya is a fifth-year senior and understands what UAB women's basketball is all about. She is a fierce competitor with a second to none work ethic, whether on the court or in the classroom. She gives her absolute best to everything she does. Above all, Maya is an outstanding teammate and is willing to do whatever she can do to help our team be successful. She certainly ranks as one of the biggest personalities on our team and knows how to keep everyone loose when needed."
Women's basketball season tickets are available by purchasing the 2018-19 Gold Card for $65. The Gold Card includes access to all home men's soccer, women's soccer, volleyball, baseball and softball games in addition to all 16 women's basketball home contests. Contact the UAB Ticket Office, (205) 975-UAB1, for more details.
For more information on the UAB women's basketball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_WBB), on Instagram (UAB_WBBall) or like them on Facebook (Facebook.com/UABWBB).
"Deanna and Maya have both impacted our program from the first day they stepped on campus as freshmen," head coach Randy Norton said. "They have been instrumental in building the championship culture we have today and are great ambassadors for UAB. They only know one way to play and that is as hard as they can every time they step on the court. Both are special in their own right and more than anything the team is the most important to thing to them."
Deanna Kuzmanic | Guard | Mount Prospect, Ill.
A Preseason All-Conference USA selection, Kuzmanic enters her final season having started all 95 games of her career. She was an All-C-USA First Team selection in 2018-19 after she led the Blazers in scoring with 13.9 points per contest, and helped set the program record for most 3-pointers made in a season as she hit 63 from long range. Kuzmanic etched her name into the record books as she became the 28th member of UAB's 1,000-point club with a 35 point career-best performance against Louisiana Tech. Entering her senior year she has 1,116 career points, the 23rd most in program history. Additionally, the Mount Prospect, Ill., native claimed a spot on the C-USA All-Academic Team as she became one of four players in program history to earn a berth on the All-Academic Team and one of three players to earn the award twice.
As a sophomore in 2016-17, Kuzmanic was one of just two players to start every game, averaging 9.0 points per contest and a team-high 34.1 minutes per game. She was a perfect 6-of-6 from long range against South Alabama, becoming the fourth player in UAB history to shoot 100 percent from the three (min. four attempts), while she tied the school record for 3-pointers made in a game. Her efforts in the classroom landed her a spot on the C-USA All-Academic Team and earned her the C-USA Spirit of Service Award.
Kuzmanic made an immediate impact as a freshman during the 2015-16 season as she was one of five student-athletes named to the C-USA All-Freshman Team and she became the eighth Blazer to earn the award. She sank 74 triples during the season, averaging 2.4 treys per contest, the 10th most by a freshman in the NCAA that season. Kuzmanic paced the Blazers' offense 11 times, netting double figures 22 times.
Norton on Kuzmanic:
"Deanna represents our program in a first-class manner in everything she does. In the classroom she is a 4.0 student, on the court she is a captain and First-Team All-Conference player. She is the first to be willing to represent our program out in the community and is an amazing role model for everyone she comes in contact with. It has been fun to watch her grow into the leader she is today. As a freshman she led by example and the last two years she has become a very vocal leader as well. She is extremely fun to coach."
Maya Garland | Guard | River Forest, Ill.
Garland appeared in 23 games as a redshirt junior, after missing the previous season because of an injury. She helped the team to program records for wins (27) and conference wins (13). Garland netted a career-best seven points against Alabama A&M.
As a sophomore for the 2015-16 season, she saw action in 21 contests and drew her first career start at Florida Atlantic. The guard netted a season-best six points on two occasions, while scoring in nine contests and secured a rebound in 12 games. Garland dished out a career-high five assists against Eastern Illinois and reeled in a career-best nine rebounds at South Alabama.
Garland saw limited action as a freshman during the 2014-15 season. She scored her first career points with a triple against North Texas.
Norton on Garland:
"Maya is a fifth-year senior and understands what UAB women's basketball is all about. She is a fierce competitor with a second to none work ethic, whether on the court or in the classroom. She gives her absolute best to everything she does. Above all, Maya is an outstanding teammate and is willing to do whatever she can do to help our team be successful. She certainly ranks as one of the biggest personalities on our team and knows how to keep everyone loose when needed."
Women's basketball season tickets are available by purchasing the 2018-19 Gold Card for $65. The Gold Card includes access to all home men's soccer, women's soccer, volleyball, baseball and softball games in addition to all 16 women's basketball home contests. Contact the UAB Ticket Office, (205) 975-UAB1, for more details.
For more information on the UAB women's basketball team, follow the Blazers on Twitter (@UAB_WBB), on Instagram (UAB_WBBall) or like them on Facebook (Facebook.com/UABWBB).
Players Mentioned
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