1989 Bios

Connecticut
Women's Basketball
Hall Of Fame

1989 Inductee Biographies

Josephine O'Dwyer – High School Coach
Josephine O'Dwyer was a pioneer in the sport of women's basketball in Connecticut. O'Dwyer, who died in 1986, coached high school basketball from 1939 to 1955.

During these years, when varsity sports for high school girl nonexistent, O'Dwyer managed to schedule enough games per season to compile a win/loss record of 87 and 10 and to post 7 undefeated seasons. O'Dwyer's legacy in basketball remains her absolute unselfishness in sharing her knowledge and skill in coaching with all she encounters in her professional life.

Virginia Moessmang – High School Coach
For years at Branford High School, Virginia Moessmanig was the entire girls' sports program. Moessmang coached basketball at Branford High School for 34 years.

Moessmang was a pioneer in establishing Girls' Varsity Basketball in Connecticut. She served for three years as a CIAC Tournament Committee Member. Moessmang was the first woman to be inducted into the Connecticut Coaches' Hall of Fame. In 1986, the CIAC Class L: Most Valuable Player Trophy was named in her honor.

Lou Albrecht - Referee
Lou Albrecht's career as a basketball official spanned 23 years - from 1959 to 1982. Albrecht served as a member of the National Rating Team for NAGWS, as officiating coordinator for the AIAW Division I National Basketball Championship, as a member of the NCAA's Special Committee on Officiating Improvements' and as National Rules Interpreter for the United States' Girls' and Women's Basketball Association.

Albrecht has lectured at basketball officiating clinics throughout the country. A nationally rated official, she has officiated state, regional, and national championship games in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, and California. From 1980 to 1984, Albrecht served as Women's Athletic Director at Southern Connecticut State University. From 1984, Albrecht held the position of Associate Athletic Director at Southern. Albrecht was inducted into the National Amatuer Softball Association Hall of Fame in 1985 and the Connecticut Volleyball and Softball Hall of Fames. Since her retirement, Lou volunteered at Americares and has been coaching young girls in basketball and softball in Fairfield, Ct.

Jean Hunt - Honorary
Jean Hunt has, in her athletic career, coached basketball, softball, field hockey, volleyball, soccer, track, and. badminton. Hunt's overall sports record is an amazing 502 wins, 139 losses, and 44 tie5. Hunt's teams have won 11 state championships and 8 conference championships, and have enjoyed 20 undefeated seasons in six sports.

Her awards are numerous! In 1985, Hunt was inducted into the Connecticut Coaches' Association Hall of Fame. In 1986, the CIAC Class M Most Valuable Player Trophy was named in her honor. In 1989 she was inducted into the New Agenda: Northeast Hall of Fame and received the Field Hockey Coach GOLD AWARD - a National High School Coaching Award.

In 1992 She received the NAGWS Pathfinder Award. In 1996 The NAGWS honored her iwth the Project Acclaim Mentor award. The 1997 and '98 25th Year Basketball Tourney MVP Trophy is in her honor in the mdedium class. In 1008 she was inducted inot the Connecticut Women's Volleyball Hall of Fame and in 1999 received CT's "Best of CENTURY" award from the Hartford Courant in the mulit-sport category. In 2000 she was inducted into the National High School Athleteic Coaches Hall of Fame AND the Connecticut Field Hockey Hall of Fame. In 2001 She received the CT Sports writer's Gold Key Award and in 2003 was inducted into the Litchfield Athletic Hall of Fame.

Cindy Malinowski – High School Player
Cindy Malinowski led Westbrook High School to two CIAC Class S Championship titles and to an undefeated 25 and 0 season before graduating in 1981. During her high school career, Malinowski compiled a scoring record of 2,097 points, was a four year All-Stater, and was a four year selection for the All-Shoreline Team.

In recognition of her achievements, Westbrook High retired Malinowski's uniform number: 10. The New Haven Tap-Off Club, for four years, named Malinowski its Outstanding High School Women's Basketball Player. Malinowski played college basketball at the University of Vermont -in Burlington, from which she graduated in 1985.

Sue Rojcewicz - College Player
Sue Rojcewicz' outstanding playing career at Southern Connecticut State University gained her national as well as international recognition. A three year starter for Southern, Rojcewicz averaged 14 points a game on teams that were ranked third in the nation in 1973 and '74.

In 1975, Rojcewicz played on the United States National Team and on the United States Pan-American Team which won the Gold Medal in Mexico City. Also in 1975, Rojcewicz was named a Kodak All-American. In 1976, Rojcewicz had the honor of playing on the first ever United States Olympic Women's Basketball Team which won the Silver Medal in Montreal.

Hunt officiated basketball for 24 years, both on the high school and the college levels. She served as Chairman of the Connecticut Board of Women Officials and as CIAC Committee Member for Tournament Play. In 1985, Hunt was inducted into the Connecticut Coaches' Association Hall of Fame. In 1986, the CIAC Class M Most Valuable Player Trophy was named in her honor.