immaculata women's basketball 1972 rosterimmaculata women's basketball 1972 roster

The players crowded four to a room and washed their wool uniforms in hotel sinks. On Sunday, March 19, 1972, Immaculata Universitys womens basketball team etched its name into sports history as the first womens college basketball national champions. "It's insane what they did, winning three championships and having no money," said Hayek, who grew up in nearby Lancaster, and was a star basketball player in the area before earning a scholarship to Miami. Now, 40 years after its incredible run started, Immaculata's story has been made into a movie ("The Mighty Macs") that will open nationally Friday. #GoMacs @IUMightyMacs Men's Basketball Ready for the Atlantic East Semifinals at Marymount https://t.co/UYqfKnQe6h @IUMightyMacs GAMEDAY! The current Mighty Macs also honor Rush every year when they wear pink jerseys with her name on the back in their annual Pink Zone game in February. To honor the 50th anniversary of that first championship, Immaculata is recognizing members of all three national championship teams during a campus celebration on Friday, March 18 from 12-3 PM. In addition, the Mighty Macs participated in the first televised womens college basketball game, defeating the University of Maryland on January 27, 1975. Members of Immaculata Universitys three national championship womens basketball teams reunited to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their first national title, won on Sunday, March 19, 1972. First National Women's Collegiate Basketball Championship (March 19, 1972) - AIAW First to win three consecutive national titles (AIAW: 1972, 1973, 1974); placed 2nd in 1975 and 1976 and 4th in 1977 First women's team, with the University of Maryland, to appear on national TV (January of 1975) For more information about the 50th anniversary event or to interview any of the Mighty Mac players, email [email protected]. Theresa (Shank) Grentz (b. In the spring of 1972, still a few months before the passage of Title IX, Immaculata College won the first of three consecutive Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women national championships. She was inducted into the womens Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. Though her team has no gym and no uniforms -- and the school itself is in danger of being sold -- Coach Rush looks to steer her girls to their first national championship. (); : Named PA Superintendent of the Year. While they haven't made the national tournament since the glory years, the Mighty Macs were on the verge last season of making the Division III NCAAs. In 2014, the Mighty Macs were inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Ultimately, they raised enough money to fly eight players (out of twelve) and one coach on standby to the tournament. O God of Players: The Story of the Immaculata Mighty Macs. The following season the Mighty Macs went undefeated. The Immaculata College womens basketball teams of the early 1970s, known as the Mighty Macs, won the first three national tournaments of the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) in 1972, 1973, and 1974. The AIAW tournament was preceded by a tournament sponsored by the Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (CIAW), which was held from 1969 to 1971.[1]. The story of the 1972 Immaculata Universitys womens basketball season is embedded in the history of college sports. Elizabeth Zack and Emma Holub also collected hat tricks with four and three goals, respectively. Seeded fifteenth in the 1972 national tournament, the team almost did not make the trip to Illinois because of the cost. The mural pays homage to Philadelphia championship winners from multiple sports, and this detail from the mural shows a Mighty Macs player, representing the three AIAW Basketball championships won by Immaculata College (now Immaculata University) between 1972 and 1974. Inquirer Published Mar 13, 2012 Published March 13, 2012 On Sunday, March 19, 1972, Immaculata University's women's basketball team etched its name into sports history as the first women's college basketball national champions. Although the last AIAW champion was decided 18 years ago, the league played. The Mighty Macs' rise to national champions was a true David-versus-Goliath story. Directed by Tim Chambers. Those schools were going to attract the better players. Chestnut Hill College. The host site was Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User . In 1972 Immaculata University was a small women's college in suburban Philadelphia, whose gym burned to. In the first game, the Macs overcame South Dakota State 60-47, then defeated Indiana University (49-47) and the Mississippi State College for Women (46-43). To think that 11 young women and their equally young coach raised the profile and changed the perception of womens sports is amazing. Sixteen teams participated. Rush is a breast cancer survivor. The Mighty Macs were not favored to win the championship, but the women showed determination and knocked their first three opponents out of the tournament en route to the finals. Rush could have made a move to a bigger program, and her coaching credentials remain unparalleled. The 1972 Immaculata women's basketball team. Immaculata shocked the world of college sports, and the rest is history!. In the finals, the Mighty Macs had another close game with West Chester University, winning 52-48. Check back soon! Rosemont College. The success of the Mighty Macs built upon a tradition of basketball at Immaculata that began in 1939 and drew skilled Philadelphia area female basketball players to its all-womens campus. 1947), a graduate of West Chester State College (later West Chester University), implemented strategies used in the mens game. Immaculata. Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level. [7] Beginning in 1975, the AIAW divided its teams into divisions, and held separate tournaments for Division II and Division III teams. In 1972, the Immaculata Women's Basketball program faced financial struggles that almost kept the team from competing in the AIAW national tournament in Illinois. The 1972 Immaculata women's basketball team. The 1975 and 1976 teams also reached the finals, losing to Delta State University in Mississippi both years. On Sunday, March 19, 1972, Immaculata Universitys womens basketball team etched their name into sports history as the first womens college basketball national champions. Coach Cathy Rush was the head womens basketball coach at Immaculata from 1970-1977. It didn't even have a home court to practice on after the gym burned down before Rush's first year in 1971. The Mighty Macs, as a 15th-seed, upset three teams to reach the finals in Illinois. Other players became doctors, teachers, philanthropists, or businesswomen. While all attempts are made to ensure the correctness and suitability of information under our control and to correct any errors brought to our attention, no representation or guarantee can be made as to the accessibility, correctness or suitability of information provided by any hyperlinked site or any other linked information accessed through the Basketball Hall of Fame website but not under its control. The Mighty Macs continued their dominance, reaching the Final Four in . I was really happy being a mom.". The film focuses on their rise to prominence and their struggles as underdogs in womens basketball. Immaculatas opponent was Queens College of New York, which they defeated 59-52, earning the team its second championship in a row, and Cathy Rushs second championship as Immaculata head coach. The team won two additional titles in 1973 and 1974. Theresa Grentz was a Mighty Macs player who was part of all three Immaculata AIAW championship squads. This Immaculata team definitely felt on top of the world. She won an eye-popping 91 percent (149-15) of her games over her tenure at Immaculata, including coaching the first undefeated national champion in 1973. The underdog team, led by Hall of Fame coach Cathy Rush, went on to win national championships in 1973 and 1974, a story retold in the 2011 film The Mighty Macs. [3][4][5][6], The AIAW tournament was discontinued after the NCAA began sponsoring a women's collegiate basketball tournament in 1982. OR call toll-free: To raise money, players sold toothbrushes. The Mighty Macs finished the season 24-1, making 70% of their free throws. But Sister Mary of Lourdes, the Immaculata president, organized fund-raising efforts for the Mighty Macs womens basketball team so that players could be flown to Illinois. Immaculata gained acclaim with its 52-48 victory over West Chester State in the first National Women's Invitation Tournament held in Normal, Ill., on March 19, 1972. Thats Normal, in Illinois, home of Illinois State University, site of the 1972 national basketball championships. History. It's hard for them to miss it with the championship trophies and banners on display around the gym. A Century of Philadelphia Sports. The AIAW women's basketball tournament was a national tournament for women's collegiate basketball teams in the United States, held annually from 1972 to 1982. 1145 W KING ROAD From 1972 to 1977, the Rush-led Macs appeared in six straight AIAW Final Fours. I was a senior at Immaculata in 1972 and winning the championship that year is something I will never forget. Even then, only eight of the 11 players could go, flying standby. Find out what an IU education can do for your mind, your character and your future. The team won two additional titles in 1973 and 1974. But no film can quite capture what an underdog that team was. 1 at 7:00 p.m. (ESPN+). In the championship game against old nemesis West Chester (which had sent its third team to play the Macs during the regular season), Immaculata rose to the occasion and avenged the 32-point regional loss a week earlier with a 52-48 victory. They won two additional titles in 1973 and 1974. Immaculata Mighty Macs Just under an hour away from Tip-off here on the campus of Marymount University for the Atlantic East Conference Women's Basketball Semifinals. "I think of colleges today that don't draw 3,000-4,000 to their games," she said. Connecting the Past with the Present, Building Community, Creating a Legacy, TheEncyclopedia They defeated South Dakota State University (60-47), Indiana State University (49-46), Mississippi State School for Women (46-43), and regional rival West Chester University (52-48). 1952) coached Rutgers to the 1981 AIAW national championship, and Rene (Muth) Portland (1953-2018) coached for twenty-seven seasons at Penn State University. PHILADELPHIA -- Long before Tennessee and Connecticut, Immaculata College was the original women's basketball dynasty. Ten of the sixteen teams were the winners of regional tournaments. by Lydia Szyjka | February 9th, 2022 | Campus News. Hall of Fame coach Cathy Rush underpaid, underappreciated, and just a few years older than her players built the first dynasty in womens college basketball on the campus of a small suburban school that lacked a homecourt, athletic scholarships, and even the most basic of equipment. Rush was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on April 7, 2008. The school was part of the first women's game at Madison Square Garden. West Chester University of Pennsylvania. History. In the early 1970s, the Mighty Macs of Immaculata College ushered in the modern era of womens athletics. Several players continued their love of the game by becoming high-profile professional and collegiate coaches making their mark from the sidelines. IMMACULATA, PA. 19345, Phone1-610-647-4400 Pre-NCAA statistics, based on AIAW Archives, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries.[8]. [1][2][3][4], 1972 AIAW National Basketball Championship, Last edited on 14 November 2022, at 02:37, Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women, "Women's College Basketball Championship History Page", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1972_AIAW_National_Basketball_Championship&oldid=1121776076, *Losers in the first round continued in the consolation bracket (below), This page was last edited on 14 November 2022, at 02:37. I was a senior at Immaculata in 1972 and winning the championship that year is something I will never forget. The Mighty Macs winning history has also reached the silver screen. For more information about the 50th-anniversary event, e-mail [email protected]. 1972-bracket 1972 Tournament AIAW National Tournament Consolation Winner: Queens College Consolation Runner-up: California State-Long Beach 16 teams California State-Fullerton California State-Long Beach* Illinois State Immaculata Indiana (or Indiana State?) Now over 250 games are broadcast on the ESPN networks, including the last 16 national championship games. For more information about the 50th-anniversary event, e-mail [email protected]. 1-877-42 TODAY, Accepted Students Day - March 25 (on campus), College of Nursing and Health Professions, https://www.immaculata.edu/about/history/championship-mighty-macs/, High-tech, High-demand: Headed for a Secure Job in Cybersecurity, Adult Professionals Rely on Immaculata University for Upskilling, Reskilling and Degree Completion, Anxiety Cant Hamper Her Law School Ambitions, Alumnus Brian Troop, Ed.D. They handily defeated their first two opponents, Indiana State (59-48) and Western Washington (66-53,) by more than ten points. (Randall S. Shantz covered Immaculata basketball for the Daily Local News in West Chester and, like the Macs, made friends everywhere the team went, particularly in Cleveland, Mississippi.). ofGreaterPhiladelphia. After almost failing to make it to the tournament, Coach Rush and the 1972 Mighty Macs were crowned AIAW champions and won their place in basketball history. Things were so bad for Immaculata that it had precious few basketballs to practice with, so when the team went to other schools for games, the Mighty Macs would "exchange" one of their bad balls for a new one. The team won two additional titles in 1973 and 1974. The Mighty Macs continued their dominance, reaching the Final Four in the following three seasons, placing second in 1975 and 1976 and fourth in 1977. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. 1972: Immaculata: 52-48 West Chester State: Normal . Westcott, Rich. Sixteen teams participated. Led by three-time All-America Theresa Shank and two-time All-America Marianne Crawford, the Macs featured a balanced attack that also featured players like Mary Scharff, Rene Muth, and Judy Marra. Jan 25 (Thu) W, 72-24. The highlight during the early years was defeating the Temple Owlettes in 1946, winning the unofficial City Championship and handing Temple its first defeat in four years. The AIAW was formed in 1972 and ran through 1982, when the first NCAA Tournament was held for women's basketball. Ultimately the school raised enough to send eight out of twelve players to the tournament. After the Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (CIAW) experimented with full-court basketball during the 1969-70 and 1970-71 seasons, womens college basketball officially changed in 1971 with the formation of the AIAW, and the game transitioned from the half-court game (three players on each side) to the full-court game with five players on the court. And that it happened at Immaculata University, which supported these students on the court and in the classroom, is beyond amazing, states President Barbara Lettiere 72. Boxscore Women's Basketball at Trine University March 4, 2022 7:00 P.M. Women's Basketball // W 70 - 57. Now, the Maggie Dixon Classic is annually held there, drawing over 15,000 fans last season. "These women were trailblazers," said Rep. Duane Milne (R., Chester), who sponsored a House resolution commemorating the team. vs #4 Gwynedd Mercy University // Immaculata, Pa. Recap Women's Basketball vs #4 Gwynedd Mercy University February 26, 2022 2:00 P.M. The players crowded four to a room and washed their wool uniforms in hotel sinks. In 1972, the Immaculata Womens Basketball program faced financial struggles that almost kept the team from competing in the AIAW national tournament in Illinois. Congratulations to Immaculata Universitys Mighty Macs on their 50th anniversary of the first womens national basketball championship on March 19, 1972. Yet despite those and many other hardships, the 23-year-old Rush coached her team to a spot in the first-ever women's national college tournament in 1972. Without them I probably wouldn't have had a chance to play.". Find out what an IU education can do for your mind, your character and your future. (In 1982, both the AIAW and NCAA sponsored competing tournaments.) They won their first three games, then defeated archrival West Chester for the national championships. : Follow Backgrounders on Twitter I was a senior at Immaculata in 1972 and winning the championship that year is something I will never forget. Their Cinderella story was made into a Hollywood movie, The Mighty Macs. Rush also was an innovator in marketing the game. Among them, Marianne (Crawford) Stanley (b. The 1972 victory is now a landmark moment in the history of college sports: the Mighty Macs were an underdog team from a small womens college in suburban Philadelphia with a gym that burned to the ground years before. There were fewer close calls in the Macs 1973 AIAW championship run. "Immaculata is the only school adversely affected by Title IX," Rush said laughing. The Immaculata Mighty Macs played a huge part in the evolution of womens sports since the 1970s. She didn't completely give up basketball, though, beginning a Future Stars camp that she still is involved in. During March 14-20, the entire campus community will celebrate the Mighty Macs with various events and displays depicting the teams achievements. The Dukes, who are in the hunt for an Atlantic 10 Championship double bye, began the week in a . Discover more about the championship Mighty Macs. Immaculata's 1972 team won the first-ever national women s college basketball championship title, the first of three consecutive championships for the university and the Mighty Macs. On Sunday, March 19, 1972, 11 remarkable young women and their coach from immaculata college achieved the impossible, winning the first-ever national womens college basketball championship, and against all odds, capturing the title again in 1973 and 1974. At Immaculata, Coach Cathy Rush (b. ft. of basketball history. Each game was close, as Immaculata won two of its first three games by a three-point margin and defeated Indiana University by a single basket. MapIMMACULATA UNIVERSITY Dr. Frank Breen and his wife, Judith, traveled with the Mighty Macs and filmed the first womens game ever played at Madison Square Garden, a 65 61 victory for the Macs over Queens College played before 12,000 fans. Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the games elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. Nothing about Immaculata College basketball was normal after Normal. The 1972 AIAW women's basketball tournament was held on March 16-19, 1972. "We still have such great support of the women's basketball program from the sisters," Canterino said. Overall, she guided the Mighty Macs to 6 consecutive final four appearances in her seven seasons with the college, attaining a 149-15 record. Katie Hayek, who stars in the movie portraying a character based on Immaculata star Theresa Shank Grentz, admitted with a sheepish smile that she didn't know much about the story before taking the role. Director Tim Chambers Writers Tim Chambers (screenplay) "My original plan was to take a year off and then I'd go back the following year and go someplace else. City of Champions is the title of a mural painted in 2015 on the side of Spikes Trophies at 2701 Grant Avenue in Philadelphia. Even then, the Mighty Macs had hurdles to overcome. "They hate being called the pioneers of women's basketball, so I like to call them catalysts. The Mighty Macs continued their dominance, reaching the Final Four in the following three seasons, placing second in 1975 and 1976 and fourth in 1977. Even then, only eight of the 11 players could go, flying standby. Rush rattled off a Who's Who of college coaches who have worked at her camp, including Auriemma. 2022-2023 Immaculata Boys Lacrosse Power Points. The women had to sell toothbrushes to fund their trip to Illinois for the first womens national collegiate championship tournament. The Mighty Macs and their legendary coach, Cathy Rush, will celebrate this milestone with members of the campus community, the current womens basketball team, and Tim Chambers, director of The Mighty Macs. Even at less than full strength, Immaculata won the title, upsetting West Chester -- which had beaten the Mighty Macs by 32 points a week earlier. And unlike Pat Summitt and Geno Auriemma's teams, which have dominated the women's basketball landscape in an age of growing fan interest and TV coverage, coach Cathy Rush and her Mighty Macs built title winners out of grit and determination alone.

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