The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Women’s Basketball Conference USA History - Part 1 The Milling Years
6/28/2023 8:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
As UAB's time winds down on Conference USA, UABSports.com will take a look back on the last 28 seasons in the league. The three-part series will feature the three eras of coaches – Jeannie Milling, Audra Smith and Randy Norton.
On April 24, 1995 it was announced that UAB will officially join 11 other schools to create the NCAA's newest league – Conference USA. The Blazers would be joined by fellow Great Midwest Conference mates Cincinnati, DePaul, Marquette Memphis and Saint Louis. Those schools joined forces with Metro Conference teams Charlotte, Louisville, South Florida, Southern Miss and Tulane along with Houston the following season to form one of the nation's premier basketball conferences.
In the maiden season, the league was split into three divisions – Red, White and Blue. UAB was in the Red Division with Southern Miss, Tulane and USF. The league chose Bartow Arena to host its first Conference USA Women's Basketball Championship.
The Blazers, led by Jeannie Milling were riding the momentum of the last two seasons, winning 42 games – including a then-school record 23 games in 1994. Milling's team finished with a solid 9-5 league record in its inaugural CUSA season. Only regular season champion DePaul, tournament champion Memphis and Red Division champion Southern Miss had more league victories.
Highlights of the year included the Blazers ripping off six straight C-USA wins between Jan. 14 and Feb. 8, a streak that would stand until 2018. Additionally, UAB's 73-70 victory over DePaul on Feb. 2 was the only loss for the Blue Demons during the conference slate.
Individually, Mary Morning became the league's first ever Player of the Week when she earned the honor on Nov. 4, 1995. Additionally, she was C-USA's first Defensive Player of the Year along with being named First Team All-Conference.
Uvette Dabney was named to the Second Team. She hit nine 3-pointers in the Blazers win over Troy on Jan. 23, 1996, holding the C-USA single-game record for 18 seasons. Dabney had eight 3-pointers against USF on Feb. 12, 1996 – a record that stood until 2011.
The next three seasons saw the Blazers only win five C-USA games in 1997, four in 1998 and eight in 1999. But the team was on the rise behind Deanna Jackson who became UAB's first C-USA Rookie of the Year in 1999 after averaging 16.7 points per game and shooting 51.6% from the field.
In 2000, the Blazers got hot at the right time and advanced to the C-USA Championship game. Despite their 8-8 league record, UAB secured and at-large bid as an 11-seed to the NCAA Championship. The Blazers shocked the world by becoming the first Conference USA team to advance to the Sweet 16 after victories over No. 6 Oregon and No. 3 Mississippi. Jackson was named First Team All-Conference and Michelle Smith was C-USA Rookie of the Year
The 21 wins overall was the most since joining the league as the success would carry over to 2001 as they put up 20 victories and advanced to the third round of the WNIT. Individually, Jackson became UAB's first C-USA Player of the Year and All-American after a stellar season averaging 25.1 point per game.
As the team was trending upward, they were dealt a blow midway through the 2001-02 season when Jackson was lost for the season with an injury after 11 games. The respect she commanded was evident as the league named her honorary Player of the Year after averaging 26.2 points per game. Jackson would later be drafted eighth overall in the 2002 WNBA Draft by the Cleveland Rockers.
The next two seasons saw UAB win a total of seven conference games and UAB's athletic director Watson Brown relieved Milling of her position on March 10, 2004.
On April 24, 1995 it was announced that UAB will officially join 11 other schools to create the NCAA's newest league – Conference USA. The Blazers would be joined by fellow Great Midwest Conference mates Cincinnati, DePaul, Marquette Memphis and Saint Louis. Those schools joined forces with Metro Conference teams Charlotte, Louisville, South Florida, Southern Miss and Tulane along with Houston the following season to form one of the nation's premier basketball conferences.
In the maiden season, the league was split into three divisions – Red, White and Blue. UAB was in the Red Division with Southern Miss, Tulane and USF. The league chose Bartow Arena to host its first Conference USA Women's Basketball Championship.
The Blazers, led by Jeannie Milling were riding the momentum of the last two seasons, winning 42 games – including a then-school record 23 games in 1994. Milling's team finished with a solid 9-5 league record in its inaugural CUSA season. Only regular season champion DePaul, tournament champion Memphis and Red Division champion Southern Miss had more league victories.
Highlights of the year included the Blazers ripping off six straight C-USA wins between Jan. 14 and Feb. 8, a streak that would stand until 2018. Additionally, UAB's 73-70 victory over DePaul on Feb. 2 was the only loss for the Blue Demons during the conference slate.
Individually, Mary Morning became the league's first ever Player of the Week when she earned the honor on Nov. 4, 1995. Additionally, she was C-USA's first Defensive Player of the Year along with being named First Team All-Conference.
Uvette Dabney was named to the Second Team. She hit nine 3-pointers in the Blazers win over Troy on Jan. 23, 1996, holding the C-USA single-game record for 18 seasons. Dabney had eight 3-pointers against USF on Feb. 12, 1996 – a record that stood until 2011.
The next three seasons saw the Blazers only win five C-USA games in 1997, four in 1998 and eight in 1999. But the team was on the rise behind Deanna Jackson who became UAB's first C-USA Rookie of the Year in 1999 after averaging 16.7 points per game and shooting 51.6% from the field.
In 2000, the Blazers got hot at the right time and advanced to the C-USA Championship game. Despite their 8-8 league record, UAB secured and at-large bid as an 11-seed to the NCAA Championship. The Blazers shocked the world by becoming the first Conference USA team to advance to the Sweet 16 after victories over No. 6 Oregon and No. 3 Mississippi. Jackson was named First Team All-Conference and Michelle Smith was C-USA Rookie of the Year
The 21 wins overall was the most since joining the league as the success would carry over to 2001 as they put up 20 victories and advanced to the third round of the WNIT. Individually, Jackson became UAB's first C-USA Player of the Year and All-American after a stellar season averaging 25.1 point per game.
As the team was trending upward, they were dealt a blow midway through the 2001-02 season when Jackson was lost for the season with an injury after 11 games. The respect she commanded was evident as the league named her honorary Player of the Year after averaging 26.2 points per game. Jackson would later be drafted eighth overall in the 2002 WNBA Draft by the Cleveland Rockers.
The next two seasons saw UAB win a total of seven conference games and UAB's athletic director Watson Brown relieved Milling of her position on March 10, 2004.
C-USA Awards and Honors Under Milling
| Season | Player | Honor |
| 1995-96 | Mary Morning | Defensive Player of the Year |
| 1995-96 | Erika Cosby | Sixth Player of the Year |
| 1995-96 | Mary Morning | First Team |
| 1995-96 | Uvette Dabney | Second Team |
| 1996-97 | Mary Morning | Third Team |
| 1998-99 | Deanna Jackson | All-Freshman Team |
| 1999-00 | Michelle Smith | All-Freshman Team |
| 1999-00 | Deanna Jackson | First Team |
| 2000-01 | Deanna Jackson | Player of the Year |
| 2000-01 | Deanna Jackson | First Team |
| 2000-01 | Natasha Thomas | All-Freshman Team |
| 2000-01 | Mia Thrash | Second Team |
| 2001-02 | Deanna Jackson | Player of the Year |
| 2001-02 | Natasha Thomas | Second Team |
| 2002-03 | Natasha Thomas | Third Team |
| 2003-04 | Natasha Thomas | Third Team |
C-USA Seasons Under Milling
| Season | Record | Place | C-USA Tournament | Postseason |
| 1995-96 | 18-11, 9-5 | T-2nd (Red) | Quarterfinals | None |
| 1996-97 | 14-14, 5-9 | T-3rd (Red) | Quarterfinals | None |
| 1997-98 | 9-19, 4-12 | 5th (National) | Quarterfinals | None |
| 1998-99 | 13-14, 8-8 | T-3rd (National) | First Round | None |
| 1999-00 | 21-13, 8-8 | 4th (National) | Runner-Up | NCAA Sweet 16 |
| 2000-01 | 20-11, 10-6 | T-2nd (National) | Quarterfinals | WNIT Third Round |
| 2001-02 | 12-16, 4-10 | T-11th | First Round | None |
| 2002-03 | 8-19, 4-10 | T-12th | Did not qualify | None |
| 2003-04 | 9-19, 3-11 | T-11th | First Round | None |
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