50 Years of Title IX: Debbie Miller-Palmore
May 17, 2022 | General, Women's Basketball
In the topic of all-time greats in Boston University Athletics history, Debbie Miller-Palmore is definitely in the discussion.
A 5-11 forward from the Bronx, Miller-Palmore started all four years for the BU women's basketball team from 1977-81, leading the team in scoring, rebounding and every other offensive category each year while collecting four team MVP awards. She was fourth in the nation in rebounding her junior year and third in the nation her senior year. With Miller-Palmore in the lineup, the Terriers compiled a record of 66 wins and 33 losses, made it to the Eastern finals three of her four years and qualified for the AIAW National Tournament one year.
A four-time Kodak District I-A All-Region selection, Miller-Palmore received All-America honors her junior and senior years and was twice named a finalist for the Margaret Wade Trophy, given to the nation's top player. She also represented the United States on numerous national teams and was selected to the 1980 U.S. Olympic Team before the boycott.
Miller scored 1,864 points during her BU career and added 1,198 rebounds. She averaged 20.0 points and 12.9 rebounds per game for her career and also had 477 assists, 428 steals and 260 blocked shots.
She competed professionally in both Europe and South America before helping to pioneer the American Basketball League, where she served as general manager for the Atlanta Glory.
In 2008, Miller-Palmore started the Top of the Key Foundation, which is focused on providing financial support and opportunities for athletes to participate in programs that promote skill and character development.
The first woman to be inducted into the BU Athletic Hall of Fame from the modern era, Miller was awarded the Scarlet Key in 1981 and was a two-time winner of the Mildred Barnes Award, given to BU's top female athlete, in addition to being the recipient of the Gretchen Schuyler Award, given to the top female scholar-athlete in the senior class.
