Barbara Abernethy was a basketball player, coach, and official. She was a long-time physical education instructor and athletic administrator at Southern Connecticut State University. Abernethy was recognized as a pioneer and visionary determined to afford girls and women the opportunity to excel not only in basketball but also in every athletic arena. She also excelled on the softball field for the Raybestos Brakettes.
In 1975, Cyndie Adamski was named New Haven Official of the Year. She received further recognition in 1984 with the Dedication Award in officiating. A nationally-rated official from 1970 to 1985, Adamski officiated numerous Connecticut High School State Tournaments and Collegiate Championship Tournaments. During her career, Adamski served as Collegiate Officials’ Coordinator, as Collegiate Board of Officials’ Chairperson, as Connecticut High School Board of Officials’ Chairperson, and as National Interpreter at clinics in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut and New York.
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.
A nationally-rated official, Albrecht 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. She was in-ducted into the National Amateur Softball Association Hall of Fame in 1985 and the Connecticut Volleyball and Softball Halls of Fame.
Kerry Bascom had an incredible career at the University of Connecticut. Her 1989, 1990 and 1991 teams were Big East Regular Season Champions, Big East Tournament Champions and NCAA Tournament participants. The 1991 team earned a trip to the NCAA Final Four for the first time in the program’s history. Bascom concluded her collegiate career as UCONN’s all-time leading scorer with 2,177 points. In 120 career games, Bascom averaged 18.1 points and 7.6 re-bounds per game and recorded 221 assists and 127 steals.
Bascom compiled an impressive list of individual honors during her career. She was a three-time Big East Player of the Year, First Team All-Big East Conference (unanimous selection), and member of the Big East All-Tournament Team. As a sophomore, she was named the Big East Tournament’s Most Outstanding Performer. Bascom was named to the Kodak Division I All-American team in 1991 and was a three-time member of the Kodak District I All-American team from 1989-91.
In her junior year, Bascom was a U.S. National Team Trial participant and selected Collegiate Female Athlete of the Year by the Connecticut Sports Writers’ Alliance. She was a member of the United States World University Games basketball team which won the gold medal in 1991.
Her list of all-tournament honors include: 1991 NCAA Tournament East Regional Most Outstanding Performer, Connecticut Classic and its Most Valuable Player and Duke Dial Classic team. In 1990, Kerry was named Harvard Invitational's Most Valuable Player and earned all-tournament teams honors at the LaSalle Invitational and Amana-Hawkeye Classic. In 1989, Kerry was also named to Virginia Commonwealth/Siegal's Classic all-tournament team. Street & Smith named Kerry to their Honorable Mention All-America team (1990) and chose her for their 1990-91 Pre-Season All America team. In her junior year, she was a US National Team Trial participant and also selected Collegiate Female Athlete-of-the-Year by the Connecticut Sports' Writers' Alliance. Kerry was a member of the United States World University Games basketball team which won the gold medal in 1991. Kerry concluded her collegiate career as UCONN's All-time leading scorer with 2,177 points. In 120 career games, Kerry averaged 18.1 points per game, 7.6 rebounds, 221 assists and 127 steals. For all her athletic achievements, The UCONN Club honored her with their prestigious, Outstanding Senior Athlete Award.
As a physical education teacher at Shelton High School, Celeste Beattie organized and participated in “play days,” traveling throughout Connecticut so that her students could play competitively with teams from other schools. She also organized and conducted basketball clinics for the Shelton Recreation Department, trained officials at clinics and at the Bridgeport YWCA.
For 16 years, Beattie was the girls’ sports advocate as member of the Board of Directors of the Shelton Recreation Department. She served as assistant coach, trainer, and manager of the Shelton High School Girls’ Basketball Team during the years the team won eight Housatonic League Titles (1969-79) and the 1976 CIAC Class LL State Championship.
After graduating from Southern Connecticut State College, Erika Beerbaum helped build a strong athletic program and “basketball tradition” at Lyman Hall High School in Wallingford. She was instrumental in the formation of the Girls’ Division of the Housatonic League. Beerbaum transferred across town to the newly built Sheehan High School in 1971.
The Sheehan athletic program flourished in the early seventies and in 1975, her basketball team won the Housatonic League Championship. The following Fall, Beerbaum’s volleyball team placed second in the Class M State Championship and in 1976, the Sheehan basketball team won the Class L State Championship. As a coach, Beerbaum expected her players to be totally committed to the program and to be “exceptional people” on and off the court. In 2005, she was inducted into the Mark T. Sheehan Hall of Fame.
Mary Benevento was a high school coach, a college coach, a basketball official, and an athletic director. Benevento held the distinction of being the first female 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. She 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 was 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.
Cathy Bochain proved that a scholar athlete could excel in athletics while following a rigorous academic program. Prior to graduating cum laude from the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy, Bochain became UConn’s all-time leading scorer with 1,534 points. She also registered the most career steals (240) and most steals in a single game (10).
During 1979-83, Bochain’s team was ranked number one in New England in Division I; in 1981, UConn was the region’s representative to the AIAW Tournament. During the 1979-80 season, Bochain was selected to the All-Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts Team and was the recipient of the 1983 UConn Club Award for the Outstanding Female Athlete.
A 1975 graduate of Southern Connecticut State University, Joan Bonvicini starred at point guard and earned four varsity letters. Her team went to the AIAW Nationals in all four seasons (1972-75), placing third in ‘73 and ‘74. As team co-captain, she was named the AIAW Regional MVP in ‘75 and was Honorable Mention All-American, as well as a finalist on the ‘76 U.S. Women’s Olympic Basketball Team. In her senior year at SCSU, Bonvicini led the nation in assists per game (9), and in steals per game (7).
Bonvicini was the Head Coach at Long Beach State for 12 years, compiling a 325-71 record, and guiding her team to ten Big West Titles. In 1991, she was selected to lead the University of Arizona and since then has recorded the most wins in Arizona women’s basketball history. Bonvicini is one of the most respected coaches in the game. On February 8, 2007, she became the 18th Division I women’s basketball coach to win 600 games.
During her career at Wilbur Cross High School in New Haven, Sabrina Johnson averaged 29 points per game. She played on two district championship teams and was a member of the 1984 State Championship Team. She was All-State and All-District in 1984 and was voted the number one high school player in Connecticut.
While attending St. John’s University, “Bre” was the school’s fourth all-time leading scorer with 1,431 career points in just three seasons.
She holds several school records, including the highest career scoring average at 16.6, most career free throws made (339), and most free throws made in a season (130). She is among the all-time school leaders, in rebounds (4th-661), assists (6th-390), steals (5th- 193) and field goals made (5th-535). During her first season, “Bre” led the team with a 15.3 points per game average, field goals made (181), assists (117) and steals (58). She scored in double figures in 24 of 30 games, including a string of 11 straight. She was named the BIG EAST Tournament MVP and selected first team ALL BIG EAST. She was also named to the All-Tournament team at the Roger White Invitational at Northwestern and was crowned the MVP of the Rev. Jospeh T. Cahill Tournament. Breland was also nominated for the Kodak Women’s All-American basketball team.
Crystal Brown was ahead of her time. She participated in athletics at Westhill High School in Stamford shortly after the school was built. The CIAC [CT Interscholastic Athletic Conference] was just beginning to recognize girls’ sports and FCIAC [Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference] was just developing into one of the premiere conferences in the state. If Crystal had received the media attention available to young women today, “she could have been a top Division I athlete,” according to her basketball coach, Lynn Ryan.
Crystal was a three-sport athlete at Westhill. She was a four-year starter in field hockey, basketball, and softball, and excelled in all three sports. She was the first freshman to earn a starting position on the Westhill varsity basketball team. Coach Ryan recalls Crystal as “one of the finest, most natural athletes to come out of Stamford.
She was an outstanding leader – a super person – who had the physical attributes, tenacity, and work ethic to succeed in everything she did.” Crystal was part of a “special group at Westhill who helped make coaching a very meaningful and rewarding experience.” Brown was named to the All-State Team during her junior year and earned All-County honors as a junior and senior. She was named 1977 Player of the Year and selected to the First All-City Girls’ Basketball Squad. She averaged 13 points per game during her senior year in 1977 and was part of the first FCIAC Championship for Westhill.
Crystal’s athletic endeavors resulted in her being selected as a Women’s Sports Magazine High School All-Star (1976) and acknowledgement of that honor by Billie Jean King. In her senior year, Crystal was also voted “‘Best All-Around Student.” Crystal continued her education at Eastern Connecticut State University where she was a starting guard for two seasons before suffering a severed Achilles tendon. After rehabilitation, she transferred to Southern Connecticut State College where she played center field for Softball Coach Louise Albrecht for two seasons.
Stacey Cagenello attended Lewis S. Mills High School and graduated in 1983. She played guard and forward for the basketball team. She scored 1,164 points and was named to the All-State and Prep High School All-American teams during her senior year.
Cagenello continued her education at Lafayette College in Pennsylvania. She continued to excel in both basketball and softball and also participated in ROTC training. In 1984, she was named Rookie of the Year in the East Coast Conference (ECC). In 1985 and 1987, she helped Lafayette win the ECC Championship. Cagenello completed her college basketball career by scoring 1,521 points and averaging 13 points and 4 rebounds per game. She was also named the “Top Female Athlete” and a “Distinguished Military Graduate.” In 1993, Cagenello was inducted into Lafayette’s Hall of Fame and in 2000, was honored as one of Lafayette’s “Top 15 Athletes of the 20 th Century.”
Cagenello’s interest in the military continued after college. She joined the Army and continued to develop her basketball game. From 1988-1990, she was co-captain of the All-Army Women’s team, and in 1989, was selected as the U.S. Army Female Athlete of the Year.
(Posthumous Award)
Kelly Camp, a 5-foot-8 guard, was among the state’s first true impact players on the high school level in the mid-1970s.
Camp scored a record 1,329 points during her career at West Haven High School. Selected First Team All-State in both 1976 and 1977, Camp was the leading scorer in the New Haven area in 1977 and was named to Parade Magazine’s All-America Squad. Co-Captain of the Westies in 1976-77, Camp was named Most Valuable Player for three years (1974-77).
Camp went on to showcase her talent with two major-college programs, first at the University of Wisconsin in the Big Ten and then St. John’s University in the Big East.
Although Camp only spent two seasons at Wisconsin, she still ranks among the career leaders in several offensive categories.
From a .500 team, St. John’s went 26-8 the next season and earned a berth in the AIAW na-tional tourney due in large part to Camp’s talents. Besides being high scorer, Camp led the nation in assists as a senior, averaging more than 10 a game.
Dan Campbell, Jr. began officiating basketball games in 1970. From 1970-1993, he was a top-rated official in New Haven County for high school girls’ and boys’ games, and officiated collegiate games throughout New England. His reputation speaks for itself; he was selected to ref-eree many CIAC Tournament and Championship games (1975-1982), as well as several AIAW playoff games.
Perhaps his greatest basketball memory occurred in 1976, when Campbell officiated perennial powerhouses Queens College and Delta State in the Finals of the AIAW Tournament in Vir-ginia. Delta State eventually won in triple overtime.
Campbell served on the New Haven Board of Officials from 1968-1993 and the Women’s Board of Officials in the late 1970’s.
Tony Candido’s involvement in girls’ and women’s basketball in Connecticut transcends the basketball court. He retired from collegiate officiating in 2006 after 45 years and 3,000+ games. He worked the CIAC Girls’ High School Tournament since its origin and hasn’t missed a tourna-ment since. Candido’s personal goal of promoting achievement and growth in women’s basket-ball for players, coaches, and officials, combined with his extensive refereeing experience, exemplifies his dedication to the sport.
Candido was involved in the administrative aspect of several basketball organizations: C.B.C.B.O. for 30 years and the I.B.O. for 10 years. He was the Assignor for both the C.B.C.B.O. and the New England Board of Officials (College Level).
In addition to officiating high school tournaments, Candido worked at numerous Collegiate Conferences and NCAA Tournaments (MAAC, NECC, Big East, Ivy League, Colonial, Division II NCAA, and Division III Semi-Finals). In the early 1980’s, he was asked to referee in the Orange Bowl Classic in Florida.
Candido received several awards as a result of his basketball officiating. In 1979, he was recognized as the Outstanding Official by the New Haven Tap Off Club. He has received the C.H.S.C.A. Official of the Year Award (1998), the C.B.C.B.O. Referee’s Service Award (2000), and he was honored as the ECAC’s Dedicated Official in 2002. Candido was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006, the only CT official to be so honored.
Beth Chandler was an outstanding athlete at Branford High School in the early 1980’s. She helped lead the Hornets to two Class L State Basketball Championship and two Class M Championships in Volleyball.
As a star forward, Chandler scored 1,03l points in just three years of varsity play. She set a single-season school record shooting 66% from the field, and had a career record of 61% field goal percentage.
Chandler was named to the Housatonic League All-Star Team, the Connecticut Class L All-State Team, and was selected as a Converse High School All American. Her stellar play in 1983 contributed to Branford High School’s #5 national ranking in USA Today. The 3-year class president and National Honor Society member went on to a successful MVP career at Harvard University where she graduated cum laude with a degree in economics. She played internationally in Salzburg, Austria -- averaging 20 points and 14 rebounds per game for her championship team.
Tami Chapman grew up in Bristol in the 60s and 70s in a neighborhood that was predominately males, playing pick-up games of any sport on evenings and weekends . She also loved shooting hoops, having a catch and a round or two of golf with her Dad.
Tami attended Bristol Eastern High School from 1972-1976 under the guidance of Coach Joann Galati, where she dominated at the forward position. Chap’s team won championships during three of her four years -- one in the Central CT Interscholastic Conference and two in the Colonial Conference. She set a school record for points per game (34) and in 1975, became the first female in the city of Bristol to score 1000 points.
Tami received many honors during her high school career. In 1975, she received the Scoreboard Recognition Award for Outstanding Athletic Achievement in Conference Play. That same year she was honored by Billie Jean King with the Women’s Sports Magazine Athlete of the Year Award. Criteria for that award included outstanding contributions to team play and consistent display of good sportsmanship on and off the playing field. During her senior year, Tami was named to both the Class AA First Team All-State and Parade Magazine’s All-American Squad.
Tami’s athletic skills were not limited to the basketball court. She played varsity softball all four years and varsity volleyball during her junior and senior years. Tami was selected All League in basketball, softball and volleyball from 1973-1976. She became the first woman to hold the position of President of the Athletic Association at Bristol East High School.
Tami continued to play basketball at Mattatuck Community College from 1977-1979, where she was selected All NJCAA in basketball, softball, and volleyball. In 1978, she received All American recognition in softball . While at Mattatuck, Tami averaged 20.8 pts, 11.3 rebounds, most career points 708 , field goals, 271, free throws 117 and a single game record of 34 pts and 23 rebounds. She completed her collegiate career at East Stroudsburg State College majoring in physical education while competing in volleyball and basketball . Their volleyball team participated in the 1979 Women’s Division III Championship. The next year found Tami in Colorado Springs for the US Pan American Games softball tryouts at the US Olympic Training Center.
Legend. Pioneer. Institution. These are just some of the words used to describe Pam Childs upon her retirement in 1999 as the Putnam High School girls’ varsity basketball coach. Childs began the program some 30 years earlier, in 1969, at a time when the Quinebaug Valley Conference didn’t recognize organized girls’ basketball. This was simply unacceptable to Coach Childs, who was very involved in athletics during her high school and college years, so she, along with two of her contemporaries from Putnam Catholic and Woodstock Academy, formed what they call the “Ladies QVC.” Eventually, the league’s athletic directors recognized them and Coach Childs went on to lead her teams to 411 victories. Included in those victories, were eight QVC champi-onships, five appearances in the Connecticut Class S state tournament semifinals, and two trips to the State Championship game. She also enjoyed a two-year, 44-game regular season win streak from December, 1978 to December, 1980.
Personal awards and honors also came her way. Coach Childs was twice named the Norwich Bulletin Coach of the Year. She was selected to coach in the Connecticut High School Coaches’ Association Girls’ Senior All-Star Game as well as being requested numerous times to coach Rotary and Lions’ clubs all-star teams. In 1994, Childs was recognized for her achievements by the Connecticut High School Coaches’ Association when she was chosen the Connecticut Girls’ Basketball Coach of the Year. In 2000, she was the recipient of the Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference’s Basketball Merit Award.
Debbie Chin was a highly respected basketball and volleyball official. She officiated high school championship games, regional collegiate championships, and three AIAW national basketball championships.
As Coordinator of Women’s Athletics at The University of New Haven, she was responsible for starting the women’s intercollegiate athletic program, coaching volleyball, tennis, basketball, and softball for three years.
Chin, who became Director of Athletics at New Haven in 1993, coached the perennially strong volleyball teams from 1975-1993. During that time, she posted a 576-178 record in 19 seasons and was only the fifth Division II coach to win 500 matches. In 2006, she was inducted into the American Volleyball Coaches’ Association Hall of Fame and is a 2007 Gold Key recipient.
As a result of her expertise, Debbie has served, and is still serving on numerous sports committees and has received many awards for her service to sports. These include two presidential awards; the 1993 Woman of the Ye (Connecticut Post) and the National Association for Girls and Women in Sports in 1986 and again in 1997. In 1980 Chin was listed as one of the Outstanding Young Women of America and also received the YMCA Women in Leadership Award in 1985. She was member of the NCAA Division 11 Women's Basketball Regional Advisory Committee.
Tracy Claxton led two teams to State and National championships. She led Wilbur Cross High School to three consecutive Class L state titles and in 1985, led Old Dominion University to the NCAA Division I Championship.
From 1976-1980, Claxton averaged 29.5 points and 27.6 rebounds at Wilbur Cross. She scored 2,420 points, the state record at the time. She led Cross to a 78-4 record, including 54 victories in a row; and scored 54 points in one game and had a single game rebound high of 46 and 45. Claxton was named a third team Parade All-American before taking her talent to Kansas.
After two outstanding seasons at Kansas, Claxton transferred to Old Dominion University. For most of the 1984-85 season, ODU was ranked No. 1 while compiling a 29-3 record and earning a berth in the NCAA Final Four. The 6-foot Claxton had been dominating at forward, averaging 14.8 points and 11.2 rebounds.
In the semifinal game against Northeast Louisiana, Clalxton succumbed to illness – the result of a measles outbreak at ODU. Somehow, she responded with 11 points and 17 rebounds in the 57-47 victory that put ODU in the NCAA title game against Georgia. Despite her illness, she finished with 17 points and 20 rebounds in the 70-65 victory and was voted the Most Valuable Player in the 1985 Final Four.
After presenting President Reagan with an Old Dominion team jacket, Claxton was honored in her home state when Governor William O’Neill declared June 7th, 1985 Tracy Claxton Day. She was awarded the CT Sports Writers’ Association Gold Key in recognition for her efforts.
Bethany Collins was a dominating force in CT girls’ basketball. Her Branford High School team won two state titles in 1983 and 1984. The Hornets were 71-4 during her career. Collins was the first player at Branford to score 1,000 points; she set the school record for points in a game (40), points in a season (549), and points in a career (1,339). Her 11 blocks in a game, 98 blocks in a season, and 261 blocks in a career were also new marks at Branford. Collins was a Converse All-American and a Parade Magazine Fourth Team selection in 1984 and she was All-State in basketball in 1983 and 1984. Branford was ranked No. 25 nationally in USA Today’s prep poll in 1984.
Collins continued her basketball career at Penn State. From 1985-1989, Collins scored 1,186 points, collected 757 rebounds, and blocked 92 shots. She still ranks among the school’s top 20 in all three categories. Collins played in 122 games for the Lady Lions, averaging 9.3 points and 5.9 rebounds.
Maria Conlon’s name is synonymous with the growth and success of Connecticut girls’ and women’s basketball.
Conlon played high school hoops at Seymour High School under Coaches Joe Frager and Eric DeMarco. From 1996 - 2000, Conlon and her teammates compiled an astounding 96-4 record, tied a state record for CIAC consecutive victories with 62, won four Naugatuck Valley League championships, and two state titles.
Conlon’s career high school statistics are amazing: 1,727 points, 672 assists, 650 steals, 625 rebounds, 246 3-pointers (state record), and 42 percent 3-point shooting. Conlon’s outstanding career at Seymour High School resulted in the retirement of her jersey [#5] -- the first one retired in the program’s history.
Conlon’s dominance was acknowledged as she was named Connecticut Post Player of the Year three times, Connecticut Post Super 15 selection four times, CT All-State three times, All-NVL team four times, and MVP of both State Championship games. During her senior year, Conlon was the Gatorade State Player of the Year, an AAU All-American, received WBCA All-America honorable mention, a Daily News/MSG Tri-State First-team selection, and the Dottie Shortell recipient recognizing the NVL Best Player. Conlon continued her basketball career at UCONN where she played in four Final Four Tournaments, and three National Titles. She was one of two players who played in every game of UCONN’s 70-game win streak. Her UCONN career stats were 5.2 ppg, 714 total points, 2:1 assist/turnover ratio, and she finished with 170 total 3-pointers, making her 6th at UCONN all time.
Sue Crisafi, East Haven class of 1980, started every game in her four-year career and is the all-time leading scorer for girls at EH with 1,418 points. As a captain in her senior year, Crisafi was voted All-Housatonic, All-State, All-County, as well as Tap-Off Scholar Athlete. She was a member of the Connecticut Shoot-Out All-Star Team and Junior Olympic Teams in 1980. She was also an Honorable Mention National High School Athletic Coaches Association All-American in 1980.
In 1984, Crisafi graduated from Bryant College where she started every game in her four-year career and captained the team as a senior. Her college achievements include: Member of 1000 point club (1,267), all-time assist leader, Academic All-American Team (1983), 2nd team All-Conference (1984), Conference Leader Assists (1984), Conference Leader Free Throw Percentage (83% in 1983), most assists in a game (15 vs. Springfield, 1983). Crisafi graduated Cum Laude and was inducted into the Bryant College Hall of Fame in 1989.
Meghan Pattyson Culmo learned basketball from her brothers. She played both basketball and soccer at Central Bucks East High School where she became the all-time scoring leader [1260 points] by averaging 15 points while pulling down 10 rebounds per game.
Meg is also known as the “Mother of Soccer” at Central Bucks East because of her efforts to institute spring soccer at the school. During her two seasons playing sweeper, her team compiled a 30-2-5 record and won two league championships.
Meg continued her education and basketball career at the University of Connecticut from 1988-1992. She played forward for a UConn team that compiled an overall record of 101-28.
During her freshmen year, she was part of the 1988-89 team which won their first-ever Big East Championship and was named to the All-Freshmen Team. In UConn’s first-ever NCAA game, Meg scored 13 points and had 13 rebounds in 26 minutes in the loss to LaSalle. UConn retained the Big East title for two more years.
The 1990-91 team defeated Providence in the Big East Championship. That team went on to win the Big East Tournament and became the first league team to qualify for the Final Four. Meg was named Most Outstanding Player of that 1991 Big East Tournament as she scored 20 points and posted nine rebounds and five assists in the final. She earned Big East Third team honors and was named to the All-Tourney Team.
Meg graduated as the #9 all-time leading scorer at UConn with 1106 points (9.4 ppg) to accompany her 674 rebounds. Meg is currently an analyst on CPTV broadcasts of UConn women’s basketball games. She hosts The Geno Auriemma Show where viewers have the opportunity to e-mail questions to the coach. Selected questions are read and answered on the air. Meg’s exchanges with Coach Auriemma, in addition to her insights and humor, have helped make the show a popular preliminary feature of game broadcasts.
Kathleen Curley played at both the forward and center positions at Milford High School where she captained the basketball team for three years. She was a four-year, First Team All-CIAC and named most valuable player in the 1977, 1978, 1979 tournaments. In 1978 and 1979, Curley was selected All County, All State and honored by the New Haven Tap-Off Club. She tallied 1,010 high school career points for a 22.3 points per game average, and her single game scoring record was 36 points. Her career rebounding average was 15.1. Curley was named Milford High School’s Outstanding Athlete in both 1978 and 1979.
After graduation, Curley played for UConn for one year before transferring to Southern CT State University. She was a mainstay for SCSU from 1981-84 as she recorded 1,323 career points while averaging 16 points and 13 rebounds per game. She shot 92% from the free throw line. As a senior, she played in the 1984 NCAA Division II Final Four.
