The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Women’s Basketball Conference USA History - Part 2 The Smith Years
6/29/2023 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.
After Millings departure, UAB wasted no time in hiring Audra Smith on April 7, 2004. Smith came to Southside from Virginia where she was part on a staff led by Hall of Famer Debbie Ryan. In her 10 years with the Cavaliers, Smith helped them to nine consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, four NCAA Sweet 16 appearances, two NCAA Elite Eight appearances and three ACC regular season titles.
Although her first season only produced four league wins and 10th place finish in C-USA, Smith turned the program around in two seasons later. In 2006-07, the Blazers showed a 12-win improvement overall (7 to 19 overall wins) and set a program record with 12 conference wins. They finished in second place and advanced to the semifinals of the C-USA Tournament for the first time. At season's end, UAB earned a berth in the WNIT. Individually, Carmen Guzman became the second Blazer to win Player of the Year en route to an All-American nod.
Even though the 2007-08 season produced only 14 wins, 10 of those were in league play. This marked the first time that UAB produced back-to-back double-figure victories in conference. Diamond Rogers was named as one of 52 All-American finalists.
The following year was a rebuilding year that saw the Blazers go 10-20, 5-11. Much like the 1999-00 team, the 2009-10 squad peaked at the right time. UAB finished the regular season 8-8 in conference play and was the No. 6 seed going into the C-USA Tournament with an overall record of 14-14. The Blazers won three games in three days before losing to No. 1 seed Tulane in the championship game. This season saw Jala Harris become the first Blazers to score 40 points in a C-USA game.
The 2010-11 season saw the Blazers in the middle of the pack with a league record of 7-9, tying for seventh place and falling in the quarterfinals of the C-USA Tournament. However, the team caught the eye of the Women's Basketball Invitational, a new postseason tournament in its second year. Not only was UAB invited, but they racked up three road victories before winning the championship on the Bartow Arena floor. The 20 overall wins started the best three year span during Smith's tenure.
In her final two season, Smith's Blazers won 19 and 18 games, respectively, finishing in the top third of the league with 3rd and 4th place finishes including a trip to the C-USA semifinals in 2012.
After earning a bid to the WNIT in 2013, Smith resigned to accept the position at Clemson on April 8, 2013. She had an overall record of 138-138 and a C-USA mark of 71-71.
C-USA Awards and Honors Under Smith
After Millings departure, UAB wasted no time in hiring Audra Smith on April 7, 2004. Smith came to Southside from Virginia where she was part on a staff led by Hall of Famer Debbie Ryan. In her 10 years with the Cavaliers, Smith helped them to nine consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances, four NCAA Sweet 16 appearances, two NCAA Elite Eight appearances and three ACC regular season titles.
Although her first season only produced four league wins and 10th place finish in C-USA, Smith turned the program around in two seasons later. In 2006-07, the Blazers showed a 12-win improvement overall (7 to 19 overall wins) and set a program record with 12 conference wins. They finished in second place and advanced to the semifinals of the C-USA Tournament for the first time. At season's end, UAB earned a berth in the WNIT. Individually, Carmen Guzman became the second Blazer to win Player of the Year en route to an All-American nod.
Even though the 2007-08 season produced only 14 wins, 10 of those were in league play. This marked the first time that UAB produced back-to-back double-figure victories in conference. Diamond Rogers was named as one of 52 All-American finalists.
The following year was a rebuilding year that saw the Blazers go 10-20, 5-11. Much like the 1999-00 team, the 2009-10 squad peaked at the right time. UAB finished the regular season 8-8 in conference play and was the No. 6 seed going into the C-USA Tournament with an overall record of 14-14. The Blazers won three games in three days before losing to No. 1 seed Tulane in the championship game. This season saw Jala Harris become the first Blazers to score 40 points in a C-USA game.
The 2010-11 season saw the Blazers in the middle of the pack with a league record of 7-9, tying for seventh place and falling in the quarterfinals of the C-USA Tournament. However, the team caught the eye of the Women's Basketball Invitational, a new postseason tournament in its second year. Not only was UAB invited, but they racked up three road victories before winning the championship on the Bartow Arena floor. The 20 overall wins started the best three year span during Smith's tenure.
In her final two season, Smith's Blazers won 19 and 18 games, respectively, finishing in the top third of the league with 3rd and 4th place finishes including a trip to the C-USA semifinals in 2012.
After earning a bid to the WNIT in 2013, Smith resigned to accept the position at Clemson on April 8, 2013. She had an overall record of 138-138 and a C-USA mark of 71-71.
C-USA Awards and Honors Under Smith
| Season | Player | Honor |
| 2005-06 | Carmen Guzman | First Team |
| 2005-06 | Britney Jones | All-Freshman Team |
| 2006-07 | Carmen Guzman | Player of the Year |
| 2006-07 | Carmen Guzman | First Team |
| 2006-07 | Diamond Rogers | Second Team |
| 2006-07 | Carmen Guzman | All-Tournament |
| 2007-08 | Diamond Rogers | First Team |
| 2007-08 | Crystal McFadden | Third Team |
| 2007-08 | Amanda Peterson | All-Freshman Team |
| 2008-09 | Britney Jones | Second Team |
| 2008-09 | Amanda Peterson | All-Academic Team |
| 2009-10 | Jala Harris | Second Team |
| 2009-10 | Jala Harris | All-Freshman Team |
| 2009-10 | Tamika Dukes | All-Tournament |
| 2009-10 | Jala Harris | All-Tournament |
| 2009-10 | Amanda Peterson | Scholar-Athlete of the Year |
| 2009-10 | Amanda Peterson | All-Academic Team |
| 2010-11 | Karisma Chapman | All-Defensive Team |
| 2010-11 | Karisma Chapman | All-Freshman Team |
| 2010-11 | Amanda Peterson | Scholar-Athlete of the Year |
| 2010-11 | Amanda Peterson | All-Academic Team |
| 2011-12 | Karisma Chapman | Second Team |
| 2011-12 | Amber Jones | Second Team |
| 2011-12 | TaRonda Randall | Spirit of Service Team |
| 2011-12 | TaRonda Randall | Postgraduate Scholarship |
| 2012-13 | Karisma Chapman | Second Team |
| 2012-13 | Amber Jones | Second Team |
| 2012-13 | Ashley Grimes | Second Team |
| 2012-13 | Karisma Chapman | All-Defensive Team |
C-USA Seasons Under Smith
| Season | Record | Place | C-USA Tournament | Postseason |
| 2004-05 | 7-21, 4-10 | T-10th | First Round | None |
| 2005-06 | 14-14, 7-9 | 9th | First Round | None |
| 2006-07 | 19-13, 12-4 | 2nd | Semifinals | WNIT First Round |
| 2007-08 | 14-16, 10-6 | 3rd | Quarterfinals | None |
| 2008-09 | 10-20, 5-11 | T-9th | First Round | None |
| 2009-10 | 17-15, 8-8 | 6th | Runner-Up | None |
| 2010-11 | 20-15, 7-9 | T-7th | Quarterfinals | WBI Champions |
| 2011-12 | 19-11, 9-7 | T-3rd | Semifinals | None |
| 2012-13 | 18-13, 9-7 | 4th | Quarterfinals | WNIT First Round |
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