history of women’s basketball • 118 kittie blakemore • 119 women’s basketball firsts • 123 top scorers • 124 individual records • 125 single game leaders • 126 freshman game leaders • 128 BOOK sophomore game leaders • 130 junior game leaders • 132 senior game leaders • 134 single season leaders • 136 freshman season leaders • 138 sophomore season leaders • 140 junior season leaders • 142 senior season leaders • 144 career leaders • 146 team records/winning streaks • 149 single season team records • 150 Record postseason appearances • 151 single game team records • 152 single game opponent records • 154 coliseum single game leaders • 156 largest crowds • 157 coliseum single game opponent leaders • 158 the last time/coliseum results • 160 big 12 tournament records • 161 series records • 162 year-by-year records/all-time coaching records • 163 all-time scores • 164 overtime games • 173 victories over ap ranked teams • 174 all-time teams • 175 individual honors • 176 rosemary kosiorek • 179 cathy parson • 180 georgeann wells • 181 all-time uniform numbers • 182 letterwinners • 183 THE RECORD BOOK MOUNTAINEERS COACHING STAFF PROFILES MOUNTAINEER SEASON OUTLOOK 2012-13 REVIEW The History of WVU women’s basketball The First Women’s Basketball Va. “I remember going to the first West Virginia players. A native of Wheeling, W.Va., the forward Team at West Virginia high school state tournament and thinking to led the team in scoring each year she played University myself, `Oh my, I’ve got to recruit these girls!’” and totaled 1,112 career points to become the Due to the implementation in 1972 of Title IX, a Blakemore did find 15 players good enough to first WVU player to pass 1,000 career points. She mandate by Congress for schools receiving federal play, and after one quit, Blakemore, her assistant scored a then school-best 33 points against Salem monies to provide women with the same athletic Barbara Walker, trainer Diane Nolan and 14 players in 1976, and averaged 13.2 points per game for opportunities as their male counterparts, West traveled to West Liberty to play the school’s first her career. Virginia started the sport in 1973. women’s game on January 16, 1974. Because After the 1977-78 season, during which West Then-athletic director Leland Byrd selected team uniforms had yet to arrive, the Mountaineers Virginia posted an 18-9 record and finished Kittie Blakemore to coach the first women’s team, played with “pinnies” -- a vest-like jersey that ties second in the state tournament, WVU and gave her the keys to one of the University vans, at the waist. Despite the slight inconvenience, the Marshall were forced to leave the West Virginia and provided the team with a 10-game regular- Mountaineers performed admirably. Intercollegiate Athletic Conference because the season schedule against local colleges. Leading throughout, West Virginia captured a schools were “too big” for the smaller colleges. For Blakemore, who had spent the prior 14 59-55 decision over the NAIA school. Leslie Sergy Subsequently, West Virginia competed as an years as an instructor in the school’s physical paced the Mountaineers with 18 points, with independent and its record dipped to 9-16. The education department, starting the women’s Sara Roberts scoring 11 and Cindy “Sam” Booth following year, WVU lost 19 of 29 games and, in program was a great challenge. and Celeste Knaus each adding eight points. 1981, the Mountaineers went 15-18. “In the beginning,” remembers Blakemore, “we Booth, described as the women’s version of Ernie There was, however, one significant event that weren’t sure if we were going to be with the physical DiGregorio, was a team favorite. Though having just took place during this period. Cathy Parson, a education department or the athletic department. We one year of organized basketball experience, she brilliant guard from Hagerstown, Md., was given wanted to be with athletics because, financially, they displayed uncanny skills in all facets of the game. a partial scholarship to attend WVU -- the first RECORD BOOK were more stable. Once that was settled, we found The Mountaineers lost their next seven games athletic grant given in women’s basketball. It was out we had other problems.” before besting West Liberty again, 42-38. In all, bumped to a full scholarship a year later when What the former coach refers to was the lack West Virginia lost 10 of 14 games that season, but J.D. Drummonds and Patricia Ryan were offered of available talent from which to choose. Of the 37 it didn’t take WVU long to have a winner. full rides. Parson scored 2,115 points during an players who tried out for the first women’s team, outstanding career that culminated with a third only a handful actually knew how to play the game. 1974-82: Working Up to the team All-America citation in 1983. One of the One player was told by her high school coach that First 20-Win Season school’s all-time great players, her retired jersey a good shot should not hit the backboard, so she The following season, with more time to practice and a plaque rest in a trophy case located in the thought she had blown every bank shot that went and a little more money to spend, West Virginia WVU basketball practice facility. Parson was in. Another thought when the team went into a won 13 of 17 games and followed with a sterling elected to the WVU Sports Hall of Fame in 1996, GENERAL INFO press, she was not allowed to move. 19-7 record and a state title in 1977. The team’s making her the first female ever to be bestowed “Basketball had just started in West Virginia, so top player was Mary Hennen, whom Blakemore with that honor. the girls really didn’t know that much about the convinced to join the team as a sophomore. Following the 1981 season, Blakemore hired game,” recalls Blakemore, a native of Manassas, Hennen, at 5-11, was one of the team’s tallest Bill Fiske as an assistant coach to help with the 118 WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY THE RECORD BOOK Kittie BLAKEMORE AINEERS HEAD COACH 1973-92 OUNT The women’s basketball program was started by Kittie M Blakemore in 1973, and like a nurturing mother, she has kept a close eye on it ever since. As the school’s head coach from 1973-92, she won 301 games and guided three postseason teams, two of which qualified for the NCAA tournament. AFF T Four of her teams won 20 or more games in a season S and she helped develop the University’s first and only Kodak All-American in Rosemary Kosiorek. Her influence on women’s athletics reached far beyond the Mountain State. Through OACHING C her service on several prestigious national committees, Blakemore had an impact on the development of women’s basketball and is recognized as one of the sport’s true pioneers. Upon retiring from the Mountaineer bench in 1992, she ROFILES maintained close contact with the women’s basketball P program as WVU’s senior women’s administrator, a position in which she served until her retirement in 1997. Because of her dedication and interest, the athletic programs at West Virginia University will benefit for many years to come. MOUNTAINEER Blakemore was selected to the West Virginia University Sports Hall of Fame in 2003. UTLOOK O growing burdens of recruiting and strategy. Fiske accomplishments. But to most, the points, the had coached high school basketball in Florida rebounds, the blocks ... all that was fine. But Wells EASON for several years and was known as a basketball could dunk, and dunk hard! Georgeann Wells blocked 17 S strategist. Performed several times in scrimmages and shots against Marshall on The Blakemore-Fiske combination steered once waved off in a game against Massachusetts Dec. 3, 1983. West Virginia to an outstanding 20-11 record during the 1983-84 season due to an offensive in 1982, the school’s first 20-win season. The foul, Wells was ready to make history. most memorable win during that landmark The opportunity came against Charleston on After another 17-12 mark in 1984, West campaign was an 81-79 upset over Penn State at December 21, 1984 at Elkins’ Randolph County Virginia, with Fiske now promoted to co-head EVIEW the Coliseum, the school’s first victory over the Armory during the Mountaineer Christmas coach, boasted the strongest team in its 10- R Nittany Lions. Classic. With 11:18 remaining in the game and year existence. WVU returned all five starters, West Virginia comfortably ahead, Wells took a including Wells and Bradley. The duo led WVU to 1983: Joining the NCAA & full-court pass from Lisa Ribble and soared to its second 20-win season and, more importantly, 2012-13 Gaining National Attention the basket for a one-handed stuff. The dunk steered the Mountaineers to the Women’s Joining the NCAA in 1983 after seven years instantly made her a national celebrity. Network NIT in Amarillo, Texas. Though losing two of in the AIAW, the Mountaineers also spent their television, Sports Illustrated, an NCAA luncheon three games, the inclusion in the eight-team first season in the Atlantic 10 Conference, which in New York, a display in the Naismith Basketball tournament was a major stepping stone for the was created in 1976 for men’s basketball and Hall of Fame and induction into Houston’s Phi growing program. known as the Eastern Eight up until that time. Slama Jama dunking fraternity were just a few Then in 1986, it all came crashing down OOK B WVU recorded a 17-12 mark that season and of the highlights of one of the school’s most for Fiske.