UAB's Deanna Jackson Named All-American by Women's Basketball Journal

Women's Basketball Journal named UAB junior forward Deanna Jackson second team All-American, the magazine announced Tuesday.

"This is a phenomenal honor for Deanna, her family, the UAB family, our women's basketball program, Conference USA and the state of Alabama," Lady Blazer head coach Jeannie Milling said. "She is in great company, when you look at the five players on the first team, the players on the second team with her and those that are on the third, fourth and fifth teams.

"I think it is extremely well deserved after all the hard work she has put in to improving her game over the last three years. She has proven that she is not a one-dimensional player, but is truly versatile. She rebounds on both ends of the court, scores inside and outside and is a tenacious defender. The exciting thing is she is a junior."

Jackson, from Brewton, Alabama, was recently voted as the Conference USA Player of the Year. She is second in the nation in scoring, averaging 25.3 points per game and sixth in rebounding, pulling down 11.8 boards per game. She also led Conference USA in three-point percentage, making 40.6 percent of her shots from behind the arc.

In the Conference USA Tournament against Cincinnati, Jackson recorded the 50th double-double of her career and the 19th this season. She scored 30 or more points eight times this season and 20 or more 21 times in the 27 games. She is on both UAB's all-time scoring and rebounding lists. She has 1,782 points (20.4 per game), and 956 rebounds (10.8 per game). She also holds the school record for blocked shots in a career with 110.

Notre Dame's Ruth Riley was named the National Player of the Year Women's Basketball Journal. Kelly Miller of Georgia, LaToya Thomas of Mississippi State, Stacey Dales of Oklahoma and Purdue's Katie Douglas joined her on the first team.

Joining Jackson on the second team were Connecticut's Svetlana Abrosimova, Vanderbilt's Chantelle Anderson, Marie Ferdinand of LSU and the NCAA's all-time leading scorer among women, Jackie Stiles of Southwest Missouri.

On the fifth team was Tennessee's Gwen Jackson of Eufaula, Ala.

Jackson helped lead UAB to the NCAA Tournament's "Sweet Sixteen," last season. This year UAB is 18-10 and awaiting word on possible post-season play.