Known as a strong baseline driver and a physical presence under the boards, Michelle D. Smith enjoyed one of the greatest careers in the history of women’s basketball at Brown. During her four-year varsity career, Brown compiled records of 12-12, 16-8, 15-11, and 12-14 for a combined 55 wins and 45 losses, including a 31-17 mark in Ivy League play and two Ivy Championships.

In her career at Brown, Smith played in all but one game, seeing action in 99 of a possible 100. As a freshman, Smith came off the bench to average 3.7 points and 3.8 rebounds, while shooting 42% from the field.

Smith’s career took off from there. As a sophomore, she exploded onto the scene. Finishing the season by winning 15 of their last 18 games, Smith led the Bears to a 10-2 record in the Ivies and the first Ivy Championship ever for a Brown basketball team. She was named Ivy League Player of the Year in 1984, averaging 20.3 points and 13.6 rebounds, with a field goal percentage of .575 in Ivy play. Overall, she finished the year averaging 16.3 points and 10.0 rebounds per game, scoring 20+ points eleven times.

Smith certainly didn’t let up as a junior, leading the Bears, along with Ivy Player of the Year Donna Yaffe, to their second Ivy League title with a conference record of 9-3. Shooting 57% in field goals, Smith averaged 15.4 points and 8.4 rebounds for the season and was twice named Ivy Player of the Week.

Her final season with the Bears didn’t disappoint. She capped off a stellar career by leading the team in both points (15.8) and rebounds (9.3), giving her career averages of 13.0 points and 7.9 rebounds.

Smith was a three-time First Team All-Ivy selection at Brown and 1984 Ivy League Player of the Year. Upon leaving College Hill, she ranked third on Brown’s all-time scoring list with 1,291 points and second on the all-time rebounding list with 781 boards.

Smith graduated in 1986 with a degree in Organizational Behavior & Management and Afro-American Studies, before a stint in pro basketball with KFUM-Uppsala in Sweden. She currently serves as a business consultant residing in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts.