SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – West Chester University graduate and pioneer of women's college basketball, Cathy Rush, will be inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame during official ceremonies in Springfield, Mass., Friday evening.
Rush is joined by former NBA standouts Hakeem Olajuwon, Patrick Ewing, Adrian Dantley, NBA coaching legend Pat Riley, television broadcaster Dick Vitale and Detroit Pistons and Shock owner Bill Davidson as members of the 2008 Naismith Memorial Hall of Fame Class.
Rush, a very strong supporter and advocate for women's athletics, led Immaculata University to three consecutive AIAW national championships from 1972 to 1974. She propelled Immaculata, and women's basketball, into the national spotlight when the Mighty Macs appeared on national television in 1975, a first for women's basketball.
Rush won 149 games in seven season and lost only 15, good for a .908 winning percentage. She made six consecutive appearances in the AIAW Final Four (1972-1977) and for her accomplishments was enshrined into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000.
Prior to Rush’s induction, there were 80 coaches and 281 individual members overall. Rush becomes just the ninth women’s basketball coach to be selected to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Other notable female women’s basketball mentors include former Texas coach Jody Conradt, former LSU coach Sue Gunter, former UCLA coach Billie Moore, Tennessee coach Pat Summit, former Delta State coach Margaret Wade and NC State coach Kay Yow. Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma and LSU coach Val Chancellor are the other women’s basketball coaches in the Hall.
To be enshrined, a finalist must garner a minimum of 18 votes from the 24-member Honors Committee.
Rush enters the hall of fame as her alma mater embarks on its 50th year of women's athletics at West Chester University. WCU has planned a number of events throughout the year as the school celebrates 50 years of providing its female students with opportunities in intercollegiate athletics.
