Carol Robertson, in her own words, "just loved playing" the game of basketball. Unfortunately for Carol, as with many others here tonight, there were no female athletic programs offered when she attended high school, so she settled for playing in local recreational regional leagues. Not until she graduated from Milford High School and attended the University of Bridgeport did she get her chance to play for her school team, yet even then it was a very limited schedule.

Coach Foust took over the helm at the University of Bridgeport in 1983. Prior to that time, the Purple Knights hadn’t had much experience in post-season tournament play. By the time he left, UB had played in the ECAC tournament and earned a spot in the NCAA Division II National Championship Tournament in 1989.

Sara Jane Shearer attended high school in Pennsylvania where she played forward in the days of six-player teams--just one dribble, then pass or shoot. She continued playing forward at James Madison University. She began officiating in Pennsylvania and continued wherever her travels brought her.

After an outstanding career at East Haven High School, Tracey Finer made an immediate impact on the Connecticut College team. The fleet-footed guard was honored as Rookie of the Year by the New England Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association.

Grace MacFarland was a high school and collegiate basketball referee during the infancy of women’s sports. Long before Title IX, her love of the game led her to participate in every way possible. MacFarland involved herself in teaching, coaching and organizing intramurals at the junior high school and high school levels.

Pete Shuler was the girls’ basketball coach at Westbrook High School in Westbrook, CT for 15 years. He guided his teams to an incredible 317-95 record and an outstanding 77% winning percentage. Coach Shuler credits long time friend Louise Albrecht with getting him involved in the sport that became such an integral part of his life. She helped train him as an official before he was bitten by the coaching bug.

Kelly Penwell, a ‘90 graduate of Platt High School in Meriden, ranks as one of the best players to have ever worn a Panthers’ basketball uniform. Penwell rewrote the record book while at Platt and many of those records still stand today. Career records include: number of steals (172); career field goals (593) and career points (1,472). Single season records include number of 3-point field goals (26); total points in a single season, (559); and highest season scoring average, (24.3 points per game.)

Maureen Rodgers began the girls’ varsity basketball program at East Hartford High School and served as head basketball coach for twenty-six years (1972-1997.)