Connecticut
Women's Basketball
 Hall Of Fame

1988 Inductee Biographies

Bernice Nicolari – High School Coach
Bernice Nicolari developed the women's sports' program at Shelton High School, where she coached basketball for 17 years - - from 1962 to 1979. Her teams compiled a 214-53 win/loss record, won 7 consecutive Housatonic League titles, won the 1976 CIAC Class Double L  Championship, posted three undefeated seasons, enjoyed winning steaks of 27 and 30 games, and placed players on the All-State, All-Housatonic League, and All-Valley first, second, and honorable mention teams.  In 1976, Nicolari was named the Connecticut High School Coaches' Association Outstanding Women's Basketball Coach. In 1979, the New Haven Tap-Off Club selected Nicolari its Outstanding Women's High School Basketball Coach. In 1986 the CIAC Class Double L Most Valuable Player Trophy was named in her honor. In 1987, Nicolari was inducted into the New Haven Tap-Off Club's Hall of Fame. Nicolari served as a CIAC Committee Member, as chairperson of the Housatonic League Women Coaches' Basketball Committee, and as secretary of the Housatonic League Coaches for Girls' Sports' Committee. In 1984, Nicolari received the University of Chicago's Outstanding Teacher Award, and, in 1987, a Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Humanities for her study of women writers.

In 1992, Nicolari was inducted into the New Agenda Northeast Women's Hall of Fame and, in 2003 the New England Basketball Hall of Fame. Nicolari retired in 1998 after a 36 year teaching career at Shelton High School, having served as women's basketball coach, English teacher, yearbook advisor, majorette advisor, Advanced Placement Coordinator, and Advanced Placement Instructor. She is the author of two books and is currently working on her third.

Louise O'Neal - College Coach
As coach of women's basketball at Southern Connecticut State University, Louise O'Neal compiled a 144-37 win/loss record, taking Southern to national championship competition for 8 consecutive seasons. O'Neal's Southern Connecticut teams were ranked 3rd in the nation in 1971, '73, and '74. She won the Northeast Regional Championships in 1972, '73, and '75 and placed in the runner-up position in 1971, '74, and '76.

O'Neal's Southern players proved their coach's excellence. Two were selected for the United States Women's Olympic Basketball team at Montreal; three, for the 1974 United States Team at the University Games; two, for the 1974 U.S. Team which toured the country competing against the Russian National Team two, for the 1975 United States Team at the World Games and the Pan-American Gaines and one, for the 1975 College Women's All-American Team. At Yale, O'Neal compiled a 50-34 win/loss record, took Yale basketball from 5th to 1st place in the Ivy League within three years, won the State Championship in her first season and the Ivy League title in her third.

Helen Spencer - Referee

Helen Spencer's career as a basketball official spanned 22 years - - from 1949 to 1971. Spencer served on Boards of Officials in Pennsylvania, New York, California, and Connecticut. She founded the Southwest Connecticut Board of Women Officials, of which she is an Honorary Life Member. Spencer served as Director of Women's Athletics at the University of Bridgeport from 1961 to 1970 and as Director of Arnold College at U.B. from 1970 to'77.

The first athletic training program for women in the United States was originated by Spencer at her Driftwood Institute in 1972. Spencer has written and spoken extensively on the subject of women's athletics both in the United States and abroad. She has served as an athletic consultant for Fairfield University, the University of Connecticut, Springfield College, Housatonic Community College, and the Connecticut State Board of Education.

Mary Benevento - Honorary
Mary Benevento has, in her athletic career, been a high school coach, a college coach a basketball official, and an athletic director. Benevento holds the distinction of being the first woman Athletic Director named at a public high school in New England. From her position as Athletic Director at Lee high School in New Haven, Benevento went on the become New Haven's Supervisor of Health, Physical Education, and Athletics, and then Athletic Director at Albertus Magnus College. Benevento was also the first woman inducted into the New Haven Tap-Off Club's Hall of Fame in 1971.

Benevento served as chairperson of the Connecticut Women's Board of Officials in the 1950's, as a National Basketball Committee Member, as Connecticut State Coordinator of Officiating Boards, and as Connecticut Chairperson of the Women's National Officials' Committee. She has been honored by the CIAC, by the Connecticut Association of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, and by the University of Bridgeport's Arnold College, which named her Outstanding Alumna of the Decade.

Tracy Claxton – High School Player
Tracy Claxton led Wilbur Cross High School to three CIAC Class L Championship titles and a 54 game winning streak before graduating in 1980. During high school career, Claxton surpassed the 2,000 point mark in both scoring and rebounding, tallying 54 points in a single game and 45 rebounds in a single game. In recognition of her achievements, Wilbur Cross retired Claxton's uniform number. Claxton gained national recognition when she was named to the Parade All American High School Basketball Team.

In 1985, Claxton and her Old Dominion University team won the NCAA Championship, and Claxton was named the tournaments Most Valuable Player. After presenting President Reagan with an Old Dominion team jacket, Claxton was honored in her home state when Governor William O'Neill declared June 7^th, 1985 Tracy Claxton Day.

Mary Anne O'Connor – College Player
Mary Anne O'Connor's outstanding playing career at Southern Connecticut State University gained her national as well as international recognition In 1973 and '74, O'Connor's Southern Connecticut team was ranked 3rd in the nation. In 1973 and '75, they captured the Northeast Regional Championship. In 1974, '75 and'76, O'Connor was selected for the United States National Team, and, in 1974, was named a pre-season All-American.

O'Connor saw action on the United States Pan-American Team which won the Gold Medal in Mexico City and on the first ever United States Olympic Women's Basketball Team which won the Silver Medal in 1976 in Montreal. O'Connor played professional basketball in France from 1976 to 1984 on the Clermont Universite Club and on the Stade Francais. With the Clermont Club, O'Connor won the French National Championship in 1977 and '78. With Stade Francais, O'Connor won the French National Championship in 1980, '83, and '84. In 1983, the French Minister of Sports presented O'Connor with the Stade Francais Centennial Award.