BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – WKU’s Tashia Brown secured the 2017-18 Conference USA Player of the Year award with one of the hottest hands in the nation. No opponent could slow the senior as she reached double figures in all 29 regular season games this year. UAB’s Randy Norton was crowned C-USA Coach of the Year after leading his squad to a program record-tying 24 wins, 13 of them the most in conference action. The Blazers captured their first C-USA Regular Season Championship on March 3.
 
With the sixth-highest scoring production (22.9 ppg) in the country, Brown has positioned herself as one of the best talents to ever represent C-USA and WKU. The season forward now ranks fourth in Lady Topper scoring history and 10^th in the C-USA record books with 1,994. Brown tallied 20-point marks in 21 of 29 starts this season, and reached 30+ points four times. Her peak (38) came on Senior Night on Feb. 23 against Charlotte. In addition to her consistent offensive outburst, the Lake Park, Georgia, native amassed a career-best three double-doubles in 2017-18, while averaging personal-bests in rebounding, assists and steals per game.
 
After being named to All-C-USA first team and C-USA All-Defensive Team two days ago, Brown became the 12^th player in program history to collect all-conference recognition in three or more seasons. The Lady Toppers are set at the No. 2 seed for the 2018 Conference USA Women’s Basketball Championships, and will face the winner of No. 7 Florida Atlantic and No. 10 UTSA in the quarterfinal round 1:30 p.m. Thursday.
 
In his fifth year at the helm of the Blazer program, Norton guided UAB toward its first C-USA Regular Season Championship, and the school’s first title since the 1993-94 season. The squad topped UTSA in the regular-season finale last Friday and matched the program-record for wins in a single season (24), while its 13 league victories are the highest ever. With the title under their belt, the Blazers can also set sights on the 2018 WNIT with an automatic bid. Norton and his team will open their conference tournament action 11 a.m. Thursday in the quarterfinals. As the No. 1 seed, they await the winner of No. 8 Southern Miss and No. 9 UTEP in a first-round contest.

The 2018 C-USA Women’s Basketball Championship presented by Baylor Scott & White Sports Performance Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, tips off on Wednesday March 7 at 11 a.m. CT. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit ConferenceUSA.com.

2017-18 CONFERENCE USA PLAYER OF THE YEAR 
Tashia Brown, WKU, Sr., F, 6-1, Lake Park, Ga.

2017-18 CONFERENCE USA COACH OF THE YEAR
Randy Norton, UAB (88-64 at UAB and career)

2017-18 CONFERENCE USA COACHES CIRCLE
Brooke Stoehr, Louisiana Tech
Tina Langley, Rice
Michelle Clark-Heard, WKU