The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
Unfinished Business: The 2018-19 Season in Review
3/26/2019 11:57:00 AM | Women's Basketball
BIRMINGHAM – Believe. That was the message that catapulted the 2017-18 UAB women's basketball team to the school's first ever Conference USA regular season title, a program best 27 wins and the first postseason win for UAB since 2011. But it was a loss in the Championship Game of the C-USA Tournament that clearly defined this season's message.
Unfinished business.
The fuel from the loss in the title game that would have sent UAB to its first NCAA Tournament since 2000 was evident from day one of summer workouts. There was a complete buy in to this season's message and one that freshmen Audrey Jordan, Sara Rosenfeldt, Margaret Whitley and Emily Frasco bought into as well.
Hype coming into the season had never been higher as the Blazers were the preseason favorite to win C-USA, while Rachael Childress and Deanna Kuzmanic earned spots on the Preseason All-C-USA Team.
And while the anticipation and excitement was growing for the upcoming season, there was never a slip in mindset for the Blazers as Unfinished Business was what they were setting out to do.
UAB provided the first taste of what it would look like in a pair of preseason wins over Miles College and a 101-37 victory over Young Harris.
From there the regular season began with an 80-61 win over Appalachian State before avenging a loss from a season ago and restating dominance in the rivalry with UAB defeating Memphis 85-54.
Then, it was time for this veteran squad to hit the road. With seven players hailing from the Midwest, head coach Randy Norton took his team to the Windy City where parents, family, high school teammates and many others saw UAB cruise to its largest margin of victory on the season in a 90-45 win at Chicago State.
After a chance for many Blazers to go home, UAB caught a flight out of Chicago and headed south for its most anticipated trip of the season: The Junkanoo Jam in Bimini, Bahamas. The Thanksgiving Feast tasted a lot better as UAB remained perfect with an 89-84, statement making victory over Oklahoma.
Then the real test came. With a win over the Sooners the Blazers were given a day off in paradise to enjoy jet skis, banana boats and fun in the sun in the Atlantic Ocean, while also having more time to prepare for No. 11 Tennessee. Up 10 points with 10 minutes to play, Tennessee hit six of the first nine shots of the fourth quarter to tie the game where it would remain until the end of regulation. Miyah Barnes hit a jumper with 3:39 to play in overtime to give the Blazers the lead, but the eight time national champion Tennessee was to much to overcome as it handed UAB its first loss of the season.
But still the belief was there and the mindset of the team's best basketball being in front of them remained.
The loss to Tennessee would catapult a strong non-conference finale for the Blazers as they returned home and rattled off consecutive home victories over Alabama A&M and Alcorn State, before taking down another rival in Samford as UAB defeated the Bulldogs on the road for the first time in school history.
UAB returned to Bartow Arena to defeat McNeese State and then headed to the state capitol in a date with the Hornets of Alabama State where a 62-47 win improved the Blazers to 9-1 on the season and gave sixth year head coach Norton his 100th career victory.
Then it was time for another tournament test, travelling to Fort Myers, Fla., to compete in the FGCU Hilton Garden Inn Classic. UAB opened the event with an 86-61 victory over Coppin State, placing them in the championship game against Florida Gulf Coast. In a tie game with 36 seconds to play, senior captain Kuzmanic took charge, hitting the game winning layup with nine seconds left to lift UAB to the tournament title. Kuzmanic's 31 points in the championship game earned her Tournament MVP honors, while Childress was named to the All-Tournament Team.
After a break for Christmas, UAB downed UAH 83-58 to close the non-conference with a 12-1 record and a perfect 6-0 mark at Bartow Arena.
The preseason C-USA favorite opened league play exactly as expected, going on the road to defeat Florida Atlantic 89-64 followed by an 83-59 win at FIU to close the Florida swing 2-0.
The first setback in league play would come to a pesky Louisiana Tech team as the Lady Techsters handed the Blazers their first conference loss of the season and snapping UAB's perfect home record. UAB quickly rebounded to defeat long time rival Southern Miss 71-60 two days later, a victory that would spark a four-game winning streak.
After the win over the Golden Eagles it was time for a four-game stretch against schools hailing from the state of Texas. UAB got off to a hot start, downing UTEP 74-48 followed by a 59-42 win over UTSA before flying home to defeat North Texas 70-60 in front of 988 elementary kids as part of UAB's annual Education Day.
As with any season adversity is going to come as a 55-43 loss to, eventual C-USA Regular Season and Tournament Champion, Rice would be the first of three losses in four games. Looking to get back on track, UAB made the short trip north up I-65 to face Middle Tennessee but a trio of Lady Raiders to net double figures handed the Blazers' their second loss in as many games.
UAB got back on the winning side of things with a 69-61 victory at Old Dominion before the final loss of the regular season came two days later at Charlotte.
Despite the struggles, a belief remained. That belief would carry UAB to a 77-59 Valentine's Day victory over Marshall and then avenged a loss from the season before with a 70-63 win over WKU.
Trailing 34-20 at halftime against Middle Tennessee at Bartow Arena, UAB opened the second half on a 14-3 run, cutting the Lady Raiders' lead to three. Childress tied the game at 42 before Barnes gave UAB the lead with 48 seconds to play in the third quarter to erase a double digit deficit. The game went into overtime, but a pair of free throws from Kuzmanic with 10 seconds to play gave UAB the victory, reminding the Blazers of that their preseason mindset of Unfinished Business was very much in front of them.
The Blazers closed the regular season with a 68-45 Senior Day victory over UTEP and then downed Louisiana Tech 95-69 in Ruston in the regular season finale to finish in second place in the C-USA standings.
After closing the regular season with a 25-6 record and a 12-4 mark in league play it was time for the Blazers to turn their attention the postseason. The Green and Gold received a first round bye to open the C-USA Tournament against Charlotte in the quarterfinals. A 21-point performance from Barnes with a career high five made triples lifted UAB to a 70-55 victory and a date with Middle Tennessee in the semifinals.
Having flown 10 hours west to face a rival from three hours north with a spot in the C-USA Tournament Championship Game on the line, Middle Tennessee's A'Queen Hayes had a career high 34-point performance lifting the Lady Raiders to 75-65 victory over UAB, ending the Blazers tournament title hopes. Not all was lost on the tournament as Barnes combined for 42 points in two games with eight made 3-pointers and six assists en route to being named to the All-Tournament Team.
While it seemed that UAB had failed on its quest for Unfinished Business, the Green and Gold were given a chance to continue their season in the WNIT, marking the first consecutive trips to a national postseason tournament since the 1999-00, 2000-01 seasons. The Blazers' opponent: none other than another team they had a long history with in Troy.
A team led by the long ball all season, it was Katelynn Thomas and Angela Vendrell who stepped up down low in the biggest of ways, combining for 40 points, three blocks and 17 rebounds as the Blazers battled in the final minutes, while Kuzmanic once again stepped up big at the free throw line downing a pair in the closing seconds to give UAB a 93-89 victory and advance them to the second round of the WNIT for the second time in as many seasons.
The season came to a halt in the second round though as the Blazers faced an Arkansas team that finished second in the SEC Tournament and brought in a hostile crowd that was to much for even the veteran UAB team to overcome.
One could look at the loss to Arkansas and say that the Blazers were unable to finish what they had started at the beginning of the year.
Or one could say they only continued to lay the foundation for the program's best basketball.
In two seasons the Blazers have amassed a 53-14 record, the most wins over a pair of seasons in program history. Have had the first consecutive 25+ win season in school history, won a regular season C-USA Title and finished second in the following season.
In 2018-19 alone fans witnessed three All-Conference USA performers as Childress earned First-Team honors and Barnes and Kuzmanic were tabbed to the Second-Team. Many were on hand in Montgomery to see Norton become the third coach in school history to surpass the 100-win mark.
Program bests were set in 3-pointers made (291), triples attempted (811), while this team shot the third highest 3-point field goal percentage (35.9) in school history and set the program record for triples in a game (18) against Coppin State.
Thomas had a break out season, finishing second on the team in scoring, averaging 12.8 points per contest. The lone Birmingham native on the team shot 62.0 percent (183-of-295) from the floor, the third best mark in a single season in UAB history.
Childress paced the Blazers in scoring, averaging 13.6 points per contest. The Moulton, Ala., native finished the year with a school record 110 made 3-pointers. Childress became the 29th member of UAB's 1,000-point scorers club in the victory over Florida Gulf Coast and enters her final season with 1,293 points, the 19th most all-time with 312 made 3-pointers, the second most in school history and is five triples shy of becoming the all-time leader in 3-point field goals made.
Barnes continued to do what she has done best over her career, dishing out 158 assists, the fifth most in a single season in school history and has assisted on 413 buckets in her career, the fourth most in program history. The Memphis native has also proven her ability to score the basketball, ranking fourth on the team in scoring with 10.9 points per game this season and enters her senior year needing nine points to join the 1,000-point scorers club.
The Blazers will have to say goodbye to their two seniors in Kuzmanic and Maya Garland. Garland joined the program in 2014-15 and battled injuries throughout her career, but witnessed the program turnaround from an 18-13 record her freshman year to all that it has accomplished in her final two seasons on the Southside. Garland graduated from UAB with a degree in Materials Engineering and is on pace to complete her Master's Degree, also in Materials Engineering, in the nearing semesters.
As for Kuzmanic, well it is hard to truly put words to her impact on the program. She started all 128 games during her career and amassed 1,536 points, the 11th most in program history. The Mount Prospect, Ill., native earned All-Conference honors in three seasons, while also being named to the league's All-Academic team for three years, becoming the second Blazer to garner the honor for three consecutive seasons.
The future has never been brighter for the UAB women's basketball team and as Norton said after the loss to Arkansas it would be a disservice to not continue to get better and carry on the legacy that Kuzmanic, Garland and so many other Blazers who have played here.
As this program said at the beginning of this season, we have some Unfinished Business carrying us into workouts this offseason.
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).
Unfinished business.
The fuel from the loss in the title game that would have sent UAB to its first NCAA Tournament since 2000 was evident from day one of summer workouts. There was a complete buy in to this season's message and one that freshmen Audrey Jordan, Sara Rosenfeldt, Margaret Whitley and Emily Frasco bought into as well.
Hype coming into the season had never been higher as the Blazers were the preseason favorite to win C-USA, while Rachael Childress and Deanna Kuzmanic earned spots on the Preseason All-C-USA Team.
And while the anticipation and excitement was growing for the upcoming season, there was never a slip in mindset for the Blazers as Unfinished Business was what they were setting out to do.
UAB provided the first taste of what it would look like in a pair of preseason wins over Miles College and a 101-37 victory over Young Harris.
From there the regular season began with an 80-61 win over Appalachian State before avenging a loss from a season ago and restating dominance in the rivalry with UAB defeating Memphis 85-54.
Then, it was time for this veteran squad to hit the road. With seven players hailing from the Midwest, head coach Randy Norton took his team to the Windy City where parents, family, high school teammates and many others saw UAB cruise to its largest margin of victory on the season in a 90-45 win at Chicago State.
After a chance for many Blazers to go home, UAB caught a flight out of Chicago and headed south for its most anticipated trip of the season: The Junkanoo Jam in Bimini, Bahamas. The Thanksgiving Feast tasted a lot better as UAB remained perfect with an 89-84, statement making victory over Oklahoma.
Then the real test came. With a win over the Sooners the Blazers were given a day off in paradise to enjoy jet skis, banana boats and fun in the sun in the Atlantic Ocean, while also having more time to prepare for No. 11 Tennessee. Up 10 points with 10 minutes to play, Tennessee hit six of the first nine shots of the fourth quarter to tie the game where it would remain until the end of regulation. Miyah Barnes hit a jumper with 3:39 to play in overtime to give the Blazers the lead, but the eight time national champion Tennessee was to much to overcome as it handed UAB its first loss of the season.
But still the belief was there and the mindset of the team's best basketball being in front of them remained.
The loss to Tennessee would catapult a strong non-conference finale for the Blazers as they returned home and rattled off consecutive home victories over Alabama A&M and Alcorn State, before taking down another rival in Samford as UAB defeated the Bulldogs on the road for the first time in school history.
UAB returned to Bartow Arena to defeat McNeese State and then headed to the state capitol in a date with the Hornets of Alabama State where a 62-47 win improved the Blazers to 9-1 on the season and gave sixth year head coach Norton his 100th career victory.
Then it was time for another tournament test, travelling to Fort Myers, Fla., to compete in the FGCU Hilton Garden Inn Classic. UAB opened the event with an 86-61 victory over Coppin State, placing them in the championship game against Florida Gulf Coast. In a tie game with 36 seconds to play, senior captain Kuzmanic took charge, hitting the game winning layup with nine seconds left to lift UAB to the tournament title. Kuzmanic's 31 points in the championship game earned her Tournament MVP honors, while Childress was named to the All-Tournament Team.
After a break for Christmas, UAB downed UAH 83-58 to close the non-conference with a 12-1 record and a perfect 6-0 mark at Bartow Arena.
The preseason C-USA favorite opened league play exactly as expected, going on the road to defeat Florida Atlantic 89-64 followed by an 83-59 win at FIU to close the Florida swing 2-0.
The first setback in league play would come to a pesky Louisiana Tech team as the Lady Techsters handed the Blazers their first conference loss of the season and snapping UAB's perfect home record. UAB quickly rebounded to defeat long time rival Southern Miss 71-60 two days later, a victory that would spark a four-game winning streak.
After the win over the Golden Eagles it was time for a four-game stretch against schools hailing from the state of Texas. UAB got off to a hot start, downing UTEP 74-48 followed by a 59-42 win over UTSA before flying home to defeat North Texas 70-60 in front of 988 elementary kids as part of UAB's annual Education Day.
As with any season adversity is going to come as a 55-43 loss to, eventual C-USA Regular Season and Tournament Champion, Rice would be the first of three losses in four games. Looking to get back on track, UAB made the short trip north up I-65 to face Middle Tennessee but a trio of Lady Raiders to net double figures handed the Blazers' their second loss in as many games.
UAB got back on the winning side of things with a 69-61 victory at Old Dominion before the final loss of the regular season came two days later at Charlotte.
Despite the struggles, a belief remained. That belief would carry UAB to a 77-59 Valentine's Day victory over Marshall and then avenged a loss from the season before with a 70-63 win over WKU.
Trailing 34-20 at halftime against Middle Tennessee at Bartow Arena, UAB opened the second half on a 14-3 run, cutting the Lady Raiders' lead to three. Childress tied the game at 42 before Barnes gave UAB the lead with 48 seconds to play in the third quarter to erase a double digit deficit. The game went into overtime, but a pair of free throws from Kuzmanic with 10 seconds to play gave UAB the victory, reminding the Blazers of that their preseason mindset of Unfinished Business was very much in front of them.
The Blazers closed the regular season with a 68-45 Senior Day victory over UTEP and then downed Louisiana Tech 95-69 in Ruston in the regular season finale to finish in second place in the C-USA standings.
After closing the regular season with a 25-6 record and a 12-4 mark in league play it was time for the Blazers to turn their attention the postseason. The Green and Gold received a first round bye to open the C-USA Tournament against Charlotte in the quarterfinals. A 21-point performance from Barnes with a career high five made triples lifted UAB to a 70-55 victory and a date with Middle Tennessee in the semifinals.
Having flown 10 hours west to face a rival from three hours north with a spot in the C-USA Tournament Championship Game on the line, Middle Tennessee's A'Queen Hayes had a career high 34-point performance lifting the Lady Raiders to 75-65 victory over UAB, ending the Blazers tournament title hopes. Not all was lost on the tournament as Barnes combined for 42 points in two games with eight made 3-pointers and six assists en route to being named to the All-Tournament Team.
While it seemed that UAB had failed on its quest for Unfinished Business, the Green and Gold were given a chance to continue their season in the WNIT, marking the first consecutive trips to a national postseason tournament since the 1999-00, 2000-01 seasons. The Blazers' opponent: none other than another team they had a long history with in Troy.
A team led by the long ball all season, it was Katelynn Thomas and Angela Vendrell who stepped up down low in the biggest of ways, combining for 40 points, three blocks and 17 rebounds as the Blazers battled in the final minutes, while Kuzmanic once again stepped up big at the free throw line downing a pair in the closing seconds to give UAB a 93-89 victory and advance them to the second round of the WNIT for the second time in as many seasons.
The season came to a halt in the second round though as the Blazers faced an Arkansas team that finished second in the SEC Tournament and brought in a hostile crowd that was to much for even the veteran UAB team to overcome.
One could look at the loss to Arkansas and say that the Blazers were unable to finish what they had started at the beginning of the year.
Or one could say they only continued to lay the foundation for the program's best basketball.
In two seasons the Blazers have amassed a 53-14 record, the most wins over a pair of seasons in program history. Have had the first consecutive 25+ win season in school history, won a regular season C-USA Title and finished second in the following season.
In 2018-19 alone fans witnessed three All-Conference USA performers as Childress earned First-Team honors and Barnes and Kuzmanic were tabbed to the Second-Team. Many were on hand in Montgomery to see Norton become the third coach in school history to surpass the 100-win mark.
Program bests were set in 3-pointers made (291), triples attempted (811), while this team shot the third highest 3-point field goal percentage (35.9) in school history and set the program record for triples in a game (18) against Coppin State.
Thomas had a break out season, finishing second on the team in scoring, averaging 12.8 points per contest. The lone Birmingham native on the team shot 62.0 percent (183-of-295) from the floor, the third best mark in a single season in UAB history.
Childress paced the Blazers in scoring, averaging 13.6 points per contest. The Moulton, Ala., native finished the year with a school record 110 made 3-pointers. Childress became the 29th member of UAB's 1,000-point scorers club in the victory over Florida Gulf Coast and enters her final season with 1,293 points, the 19th most all-time with 312 made 3-pointers, the second most in school history and is five triples shy of becoming the all-time leader in 3-point field goals made.
Barnes continued to do what she has done best over her career, dishing out 158 assists, the fifth most in a single season in school history and has assisted on 413 buckets in her career, the fourth most in program history. The Memphis native has also proven her ability to score the basketball, ranking fourth on the team in scoring with 10.9 points per game this season and enters her senior year needing nine points to join the 1,000-point scorers club.
The Blazers will have to say goodbye to their two seniors in Kuzmanic and Maya Garland. Garland joined the program in 2014-15 and battled injuries throughout her career, but witnessed the program turnaround from an 18-13 record her freshman year to all that it has accomplished in her final two seasons on the Southside. Garland graduated from UAB with a degree in Materials Engineering and is on pace to complete her Master's Degree, also in Materials Engineering, in the nearing semesters.
As for Kuzmanic, well it is hard to truly put words to her impact on the program. She started all 128 games during her career and amassed 1,536 points, the 11th most in program history. The Mount Prospect, Ill., native earned All-Conference honors in three seasons, while also being named to the league's All-Academic team for three years, becoming the second Blazer to garner the honor for three consecutive seasons.
The future has never been brighter for the UAB women's basketball team and as Norton said after the loss to Arkansas it would be a disservice to not continue to get better and carry on the legacy that Kuzmanic, Garland and so many other Blazers who have played here.
As this program said at the beginning of this season, we have some Unfinished Business carrying us into workouts this offseason.
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
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
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