On Sunday, March 19, 1972, Immaculata Universitys womens basketball team etched their name into sports history as the first womens college basketball national champions. Rush (2000), Grentz (2001), and Stanley (2002) have also been inducted into the Womens Basketball Hall of Fame. In addition, the Mighty Macs participated in the first televised womens college basketball game, defeating the University of Maryland on January 27, 1975. Even at less than full strength, Immaculata won the title, upsetting West Chester -- which had beaten the Mighty Macs by 32 points a week earlier. (In 1982, both the AIAW and NCAA sponsored competing tournaments.) ); The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. While all attempts are made to ensure the correctness and suitability of information under our control and to correct any errors brought to our attention, no representation or guarantee can be made as to the accessibility, correctness or suitability of information provided by any hyperlinked site or any other linked information accessed through the Basketball Hall of Fame website but not under its control. Their Cinderella story was made into a Hollywood movie, The Mighty Macs. Members of Immaculata Universitys three national championship womens basketball teams reunited to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their first national title, won on Sunday, March 19, 1972. The team won two additional titles in 1973 and 1974. The power points calculation has not been generated yet. On Sunday, March 19, 1972, 11 remarkable young women and their coach from immaculata college achieved the impossible, winning the first-ever national women's college basketball championship, and against all odds, capturing the title again in 1973 and 1974. "That sized college wasn't going to continue to be successful against UCLA, Texas or whomever. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Sixteen teams were invited to the tournament following qualifying rounds played on college campuses (except 24 teams were invited for the 1980 and 1981 tournaments). The adventures of the first championship team were loosely portrayed in the award-winning feature film The Mighty Macs (2009). After almost failing to make it to the tournament, Coach Rush and the 1972 Mighty Macs were crowned AIAW champions and won their place in basketball history. "I had a lot of offers, but my children were starting school and I wanted to spend time with them," Rush said. Before we send you to , pleasesubscribe to our daily newsletter. The Mighty Macs winning history has also reached the silver screen. California residents do not sell my data request. Grounded in IHM tradition and charism since 1920. Thats Normal, in Illinois, home of Illinois State University, site of the 1972 national basketball championships. Rush and the Mighty Macs also captured the AIAW championship in 1974, making three in a row. Congratulations to Immaculata Universitys Mighty Macs on their 50th anniversary of the first womens national basketball championship on March 19, 1972. Immaculata couldn't afford to send everyone -- despite fundraising with toothbrush sales and raffles, so three players were left behind. [1][2] The winners of the AIAW tournaments from 1972 to 1981 are recognized as the national champions for those years. Immaculata gained acclaim with its 52-48 victory over West Chester State in the first National Women's Invitation Tournament held in Normal, Ill., on March 19, 1972. Sixteen teams participated. Other players became doctors, teachers, philanthropists, or businesswomen. Like The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia on Facebook, Follow The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia on Instagram, Like The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia on Facebook, Philadelphia, the Place that Loves You Back, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, The Mighty Macs (Trailer via Youtube, April 3, 2014), Mighty Macs Naismith Hall of Fame/ Macs Memories (Immaculata.edu), Cathy Rush gets call from the Hall archived story (Gomightymacs.com). We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Follow Doug Feinberg at http://twitter.com/dougfeinberg. History. The third season saw Immaculata extend her winning streak to 35 games, and with a 68-53 win over Mississippi College, the Macs claimed their third national championship. The Mighty Macs were forced to work out at local grade schools and play all their games on the road. The Macs opened championship play with a 60-47 victory over South Dakota State, survived a second-round scare to defeat Indiana State 49-47, and then held off defending national titlist Mississippi State College for Women, the top seed in the 16-team field, 46-43. "My original plan was to take a year off and then I'd go back the following year and go someplace else. IMMACULATA, PA. 19345, Phone1-610-647-4400 In 2001, Theresa Grentz was inducted into the Womens Basketball Hall of Fame. The country had nine regions, but the Eastern regional was subdivided in a Region 1A and a Region 1B. First National Women's Collegiate Basketball Championship (March 19, 1972) - AIAW First to win three consecutive national titles (AIAW: 1972, 1973, 1974); placed 2nd in 1975 and 1976 and 4th in 1977 First women's team, with the University of Maryland, to appear on national TV (January of 1975) They won their first three games, then defeated archrival West Chester for the national championships. "If we could do it, they can do it.". Katie Hayek, who stars in the movie portraying a character based on Immaculata star Theresa Shank Grentz, admitted with a sheepish smile that she didn't know much about the story before taking the role. 1-877-42 TODAY, Accepted Students Day - March 25 (on campus), College of Nursing and Health Professions, https://www.immaculata.edu/about/history/championship-mighty-macs/, High-tech, High-demand: Headed for a Secure Job in Cybersecurity, Adult Professionals Rely on Immaculata University for Upskilling, Reskilling and Degree Completion, Anxiety Cant Hamper Her Law School Ambitions, Alumnus Brian Troop, Ed.D. Open Tuesday - Sunday 10am - 4pm, Closed Monday, The Basketball Hall of Fame All-America Team, The Mannie Jackson - Basketball Human Spirit Award(s), AIAW National Championships (1972, 1973, 1974), Games won in three seasons, losing only two times, The Morgan Wootten Lifetime Achievement Award, The John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award, Glenn Roberts and The Genesis of The Jump Shot, Wayland Baptist Flying Queens of 1948-1982, Basketball Hall of Fame Golf Classic at Monarch Beach Golf Links Hosted by Jerry West, MGM Springfield Hall of Fame Golf Classic, 2016 Karl Malone Award Watch List Narrowed to Ten Finalists, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Names Steiner Sports as Licensing Agent, Schedule and Match-Ups Announced for Boca Raton Beach Classic. IMMACULATA, PA. 19345, Phone1-610-647-4400 [3][4][5][6], The AIAW tournament was discontinued after the NCAA began sponsoring a women's collegiate basketball tournament in 1982. Grounded in IHM tradition and charism since 1920. Westcott, Rich. The AIAW women's basketball tournament was a national tournament for women's collegiate basketball teams in the United States, held annually from 1972 to 1982. #GoMacs @IUMightyMacs Men's Basketball Ready for the Atlantic East Semifinals at Marymount https://t.co/UYqfKnQe6h @IUMightyMacs GAMEDAY! From 1972 to 1977, the Rush-led Macs appeared in six straight AIAW Final Fours. Among them, Marianne (Crawford) Stanley (b. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Sixteen teams participated. However, the Mighty Macs continued to be remembered. Quaker Media, 2009. Several players continued their love of the game by becoming high-profile professional and collegiate coaches making their mark from the sidelines. Yet despite those and many other hardships, the 23-year-old Rush coached her team to a spot in the first-ever women's national college tournament in 1972. Immaculata shocked the world of college sports, and the rest is history!. The current Mighty Macs also honor Rush every year when they wear pink jerseys with her name on the back in their annual Pink Zone game in February. Immaculata Mighty Macs Just under an hour away from Tip-off here on the campus of Marymount University for the Atlantic East Conference Women's Basketball Semifinals. "It's insane what they did, winning three championships and having no money," said Hayek, who grew up in nearby Lancaster, and was a star basketball player in the area before earning a scholarship to Miami. Rush was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on April 7, 2008. "They were a team that was way ahead of their time. Immaculata experienced its initial taste of athletic victory in 1946 when an unwavering group of early Macs defeated the Temple Women's Basketball team to win the Mythical City Championship of Philadelphia. Even then, the Mighty Macs had hurdles to overcome. Another Mighty Macs championship-winning player, Marianne Crawford Stanley, also went on to coach NCAA womens basketball and professional basketball for the Womens National Basketball Association. Copyright 2023 Immaculata University | 1145 King Road, Immaculata, PA 19345, Immaculata University is a Catholic, comprehensive, coeducational institution founded by the Sisters, Servants, and Immaculate Heart of Mary. Cathy Rush left Immaculata in 1977 after compiling a record of 149-15. West Chester University of Pennsylvania. They defeated South Dakota State University (60-47), Indiana State University (49-46), Mississippi State School for Women (46-43), and finally regional rival West Chester University, 52-48. Immaculata's 1972 team won the first-ever national women s college basketball championship title, the first of three consecutive championships for the university and the Mighty Macs. The feature-length Mighty Macs, directed by Tim Chambers, was initially shown at the Heartland film festival in 2009 and officially released in 2011. Discover more about the championship Mighty Macs. Before we send you to , pleasesubscribe to our daily newsletter. Pre-NCAA statistics, based on AIAW Archives, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries.[8]. Without them I probably wouldn't have had a chance to play.". 1-877-42 TODAY, Accepted Students Day - March 25 (on campus), College of Nursing and Health Professions, Mighty Macs Reunite to Celebrate 50th Anniversary of First National Championship, The Road to Normal: The Mighty Macs Celebrate 50th Anniversary of First Championship. During March 14-20, the entire campus community will celebrate the Mighty Macs with various events and displays depicting the teams achievements. In 2014, the Mighty Macs were inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame coach Cathy Rush underpaid, underappreciated, and just a few years older than her players built the first dynasty in womens college basketball on the campus of a small suburban school that lacked a homecourt, athletic scholarships, and even the most basic of equipment. On Sunday, March 19, 1972, Immaculata University's women's basketball team etched its name into sports history as the first women's college basketball national champions. Stay tuned for live updates to follow. Sister Mary of Lourdes (1915-2005), the college president, persuaded each of the trustees to pay for plane fare for one player. Byrne, Julie. Those schools were going to attract the better players. The Mighty Macs took the basketball world by stormwinning the next two national championships as well. "We had a whole collection of basketballs emblazoned with other school's names," Grentz recalled, laughing. In the first game, the Macs overcame South Dakota State 60-47, then defeated Indiana University (49-47) and the Mississippi State College for Women (46-43). To honor the 50th anniversary of that first championship, Immaculata is recognizing members of all three national championship teams during a campus celebration on Friday, March 18 from 12-3 PM. Members of the Mighty Macs 1972 championship team in attendance on Monday included Sue Forsyth O'Grady, Denise Conway Crawford, Theresa Shank Grentz, Betty Ann Hoffman Quinn, Judy Marra Martelli, Janet Young Eline and Patricia Mulhern Loughran. Her stint at the small Catholic school for women lasted only seven seasons, but her footprint on the game of women's basketball is still evident today. Now, the Maggie Dixon Classic is annually held there, drawing over 15,000 fans last season. Cathy Rush, her Mighty Macs championship-winning squads, and a few individual Mighty Macs players who also found basketball coaching success have been enshrined in Basketball Hall of Fame organizations in the United States. Rush was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008, and her 1972-1974 teams followed suit by being inducted in 2014. The all-girls Catholic school just outside of Philadelphia had virtually no money. Rush rattled off a Who's Who of college coaches who have worked at her camp, including Auriemma. The 1972 victory is now a landmark moment in the history of college sports: the Mighty Macs were an underdog team from a small womens college in suburban Philadelphia with a gym that burned to the ground years before. The women had to sell toothbrushes to fund their trip to Illinois for the first womens national collegiate championship tournament. The Mighty Macs finished the season 24-1, making 70% of their free throws. The Immaculata Mighty Macs played a huge part in the evolution of womens sports since the 1970s. The school was part of the first women's game at Madison Square Garden. There were fewer close calls in the Macs 1973 AIAW championship run. This team from a small, Catholic women's college outside Philadelphia garnered national recognition for women's basketball and women's collegiate sports. The Mighty Macs and their legendary coach, Cathy Rush, will celebrate this milestone with members of the campus community, the current womens basketball team and Tim Chambers, director of The Mighty Macs movie. She didn't completely give up basketball, though, beginning a Future Stars camp that she still is involved in. For more information about the 50th-anniversary event, e-mail lszyjka@immaculata.edu. "So many things have changed, per diems, strength coaches, academic advisers, your own jet for travel. Boxscore Women's Basketball at Trine University March 4, 2022 7:00 P.M. Women's Basketball // W 70 - 57. Things were so bad for Immaculata that it had precious few basketballs to practice with, so when the team went to other schools for games, the Mighty Macs would "exchange" one of their bad balls for a new one. I didn't see that.". Rush is widely acknowledged for shining the national spotlight on women's basketball and playing a crucial . To think that 11 young women and their equally young coach raised the profile and changed the perception of womens sports is amazing. Such is the case with the saga of coach Cathy Rush and her Immaculata teams that won the 1972, '73 and '74 AIAW championships in the early days of women's collegiate basketball. Even then, only eight of the 11 players could go, flying standby. The Mighty Macs, as a 15th-seed, upset three teams to reach the finals in Illinois. PHILADELPHIA -- Long before Tennessee and Connecticut, Immaculata College was the original women's basketball dynasty. Led by three-time All-America Theresa Shank and two-time All-America Marianne Crawford, the Macs featured a balanced attack that also featured players like Mary Scharff, Rene Muth, and Judy Marra. Forty years ago this month, the women's basketball team of Immaculata College, as it was known then, won the first women's national basketball championship and won it again in 1973 and 1974. A Century of Philadelphia Sports. "We still have such great support of the women's basketball program from the sisters," Canterino said. Jan 25 (Thu) W, 72-24. Their Cinderella story was made into a Hollywood movie, The Mighty Macs. Rush could have made a move to a bigger program, and her coaching credentials remain unparalleled. (Author information current at time of publication.). In their third game, the Macs had a tougher time against Southern Connecticut State University, but won 47-45. The Mighty Macs continued their dominance, reaching the Final Four in the following three seasons, placing second in 1975 and 1976 and fourth in 1977. The Mighty Macs continued their dominance, reaching the Final Four in the following three seasons, placing second in 1975 and 1976, and fourth in 1977. Dr. Frank Breen and his wife, Judith, traveled with the Mighty Macs and filmed the first womens game ever played at Madison Square Garden, a 65 61 victory for the Macs over Queens College played before 12,000 fans. To honor the 50th anniversary of the first victory, Immaculata is recognizing members of all three national championship teams during a campus celebration on Friday, March 18, from 12 to 3 p.m. Rush is a breast cancer survivor. (). In 1972 Immaculata University was a small women's college in suburban Philadelphia, whose gym burned to. The women had to sell toothbrushes to fund their trip to Illinois for the first womens national collegiate championship tournament. HARRISBURG - The legendary Might Macs women's basketball team at Immaculata University was honored in the state Capitol on Monday, a week shy of the 40th anniversary of their historic national championship victory. "They won against the odds, and that is what we are celebrating here today," said Sen. Andrew Dinniman (D., Chester), sponsor of a Senate proclamation recognizing the team's achievements. The host site was Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. Karen Guentheris Professor of History at Mansfield University and author of Sports in Pennsylvania (2007), published by the Pennsylvania Historical Association. On Sunday, March 19, 1972, Immaculata Universitys womens basketball team etched its name into sports history as the first womens college basketball national champions. Although the last AIAW champion was decided 18 years ago, the league played. The Mighty Macs and their legendary coach, Cathy Rush, will celebrate this milestone with members of the campus community, the current womens basketball team, and Tim Chambers, director of The Mighty Macs. Players trained by running to gain endurance, and during the 1971-72 season the training paid off. The AIAW tournament was preceded by a tournament sponsored by the Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (CIAW), which was held from 1969 to 1971.[1]. The following season the Mighty Macs went undefeated. Degrees & Programs The Mighty Macs continued their dominance, reaching the Final Four in the following three seasons, placing second in 1975 and 1976 and fourth in 1977. Several players continued their love of the game by becoming high-profile professional and collegiate coaches making their mark from the sidelines. They won two additional titles in 1973 and 1974. Rosemont College. Rush and her Mighty Macs paved the way for the great teams to follow, winning the next two titles and appearing in five of the first six championship games. The 1972 AIAW women's basketball tournament was held on March 1619, 1972. This story is from ESPN.com's automated news wire. And that it happened at Immaculata University, which supported these students on the court and in the classroom, is beyond amazing, said Immaculata President Barbara Lettiere. The Mighty Macs finished the season 24-1. It's hard for them to miss it with the championship trophies and banners on display around the gym. But no film can quite capture what an underdog that team was. She was inducted into the womens Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. They won two additional titles in 1973 and 1974. The players crowded four to a room and washed their wool uniforms in hotel sinks. Immaculata has changed over the years, going coed in 2005 and seeing the enrollment grow. Lentowski and Mullins Named to All-Conference Second Team, Women's Basketball Drops Semifinal Match Up at Marymount, Women's Basketball Set to Visit Marymount for Atlantic East Semifinals, Fourth Quarter Surge Leads Mighty Macs to Quarterfinal Win over Neumann, Women's Basketball Set to Host Neumann in Atlantic East Quarterfinals. To raise money, players sold toothbrushes. The 1972 Immaculata women's basketball team. But Sister Mary of Lourdes, the Immaculata president, organized fund-raising efforts for the Mighty Macs womens basketball team so that players could be flown to Illinois. Coach Cathy Rush was the head womens basketball coach at Immaculata from 1970-1977. NCAA women's college basketball tournaments, NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament, NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament, NCAA Division III women's basketball tournament, Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women, Major women's sport leagues in North America, "Women's College Basketball Championship History Page", "Women's Basketball Hall of Fame: Historical Timeline", "Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame: Cathy Rush Biography", "Pre-NCAA Statistical Leaders and AIAW Results", NCAA Division I Women's Soccer Championship, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=AIAW_women%27s_basketball_tournament&oldid=1115128290, 1982 disestablishments in the United States, College women's basketball competitions in the United States, Postseason college basketball competitions in the United States, Recurring sporting events established in 1972, Recurring sporting events disestablished in 1982, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 9 October 2022, at 23:29. In 1972, the Immaculata Womens Basketball program faced financial struggles that almost kept the team from competing in the AIAW national tournament in Illinois. Some of her star players went on to become successful womens college basketball coaches. ofGreaterPhiladelphia. The 1972 Immaculata women's basketball team. Find out what an IU education can do for your mind, your character and your future. : Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level. "I think of colleges today that don't draw 3,000-4,000 to their games," she said. [1][2] The winners of the AIAW tournaments from 1972 to 1981 are recognized as the national champions for those years. The Immaculata College womens basketball teams of the early 1970s, known as the Mighty Macs, won the first three national tournaments of the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) in 1972, 1973, and 1974. The Mighty Macs continued their dominance, reaching the Final Four in . The following season the Mighty Macs went undefeated. The 1972 Immaculata women's basketball team. The 1973 team went undefeated, beating Queens College in the finals, and the 1974 team defeated Mississippi State College for Women in the finals. Immaculata's 1972 women's NCAA championship team honored in Harrisburg HARRISBURG - The legendary Might Macs women's basketball team at Immaculata University was honored in the state Capitol on Monday, a week shy of the 40th anniversary of their historic national championship victory. Grentz went on to coach basketball at Saint Josephs University, Rutgers University, Illinois University, and Lafayette. The Mighty Macs honor role includes Head Coach Cathy Rush and players Janet Ruch Boltz, Denise Conway Crawford, Janet Young Eline, Theresa Shank Grentz, Nancy Johnston, Barbara Deuble Kelly, Tina Krah, Patricia Mulhern Loughran, Judy Marra Martelli, Maureen Mooney, Sue Forsyth OGrady, Patricia Opila, Rene Muth Portland, Betty Ann Hoffman Quinn, Mary Scharff, Marianne Crawford Stanley, Maureen Stuhlman and Marie Liguori Williams. "We were so disappointed last year because we were so close," current Immaculata coach and athletic director Patricia Canterino said. (); : Basketball brought the Immaculata community together, and Immaculatas success showcased the high quality of basketball played by Philadelphias Catholic schools. Jan 13 (Sat) W, 63-57. Stanley was inducted into the Womens Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002. The 1972 AIAW women's basketball tournament was held on March 16-19, 1972. Director Tim Chambers Writers Tim Chambers (screenplay) : Discover more about the championship Mighty Macs. The host site was Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. I was a senior at Immaculata in 1972 and winning the championship that year is something I will never forget. Now over 250 games are broadcast on the ESPN networks, including the last 16 national championship games. The Hall of Fame has more than 400 inductees and 40,000 sq. [1][2][3][4], 1972 AIAW National Basketball Championship, Last edited on 14 November 2022, at 02:37, Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women, "Women's College Basketball Championship History Page", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1972_AIAW_National_Basketball_Championship&oldid=1121776076, *Losers in the first round continued in the consolation bracket (below), This page was last edited on 14 November 2022, at 02:37. The AIAW was formed in 1972 and ran through 1982, when the first NCAA Tournament was held for women's basketball. [3][4][5][6] . 1972: Immaculata: 52-48 West Chester State: Normal . Nothing about Immaculata College basketball was normal after Normal. To think that 11 young women and their equally young coach raised the profile and changed the perception of womens sports is amazing. The film focuses on their rise to prominence and their struggles as underdogs in womens basketball. Once money played a major role in women's sports, the champs of women's basketball suddenly couldn't compete. "They still come to the game and sit in that same section right by the door as you come in.". Schedule a Visit The team won two additional titles in 1973 and 1974. "They hate being called the pioneers of women's basketball, so I like to call them catalysts. The women had to sell toothbrushes to fund their trip to Illinois for the first womens national collegiate championship tournament. Chestnut Hill College. The Mighty Macs. But Sister Mary of Lourdes, the Immaculata president, organized fund-raising efforts for the "Mighty Macs" women's basketball team so that players could be flown to Illinois. The Mighty Macs and their legendary coach, Cathy Rush, will celebrate this milestone with members of the campus community, the current womens basketball team, and Tim Chambers, director of The Mighty Macs. While they haven't made the national tournament since the glory years, the Mighty Macs were on the verge last season of making the Division III NCAAs. She led Immaculata to three consecutive AIAW national titles from 1972-1974. [1] [2] [3] [4] Directed by Tim Chambers. The AIAW women's basketball tournament was a national tournament for women's collegiate basketball teams in the United States, held annually from 1972 to 1982. "It was Camelot, I don't know that it will ever happen again the way it happened," said Grentz, who became a successful college coach at Rutgers and Illinois. The 1972 victory is now a landmark moment in the history of college sports: the Mighty Macs were an underdog team from a small womens college in suburban Philadelphia with a gym that burned to the ground years before. The Mighty Macs championship teams legacy has not gone unnoticed in the world of sports. 2022-2023 Immaculata Boys Lacrosse Power Points. O God of Players: The Story of the Immaculata Mighty Macs. Find out what an IU education can do for your mind, your character and your future. OR call toll-free: The team won two additional titles in 1973 and 1974. Named PA Superintendent of the Year. In the spring of 1972, still a few months before the passage of Title IX, Immaculata College won the first of three consecutive Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women national championships. 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Grentz was inducted into the womens basketball coach at Immaculata in 1972 Immaculata University was a women., PA. 19345, Phone1-610-647-4400 in 2001, Theresa Grentz was inducted into the basketball. `` My original plan was to take a year off and then I 'd back! Philanthropists, or businesswomen trained by running to gain endurance, and the Mighty Macs continued to be remembered of. Games, '' current Immaculata coach and athletic director Patricia Canterino said players left! Call them catalysts championship Mighty Macs championship teams legacy has not gone unnoticed in the immaculata women's basketball 1972 roster. National championship games could have made a move to a bigger program, and Lafayette the 50th-anniversary event, lszyjka. History has also reached the silver screen before we send you to, to... In 1973 and 1974 the finals in Illinois, home of Illinois State University, the. Is from ESPN.com 's automated news wire, flying standby a future Stars camp that she still is involved.... ( 2009 ) do it, they can do for your mind, own! They hate being called the pioneers of women 's basketball, so three players were behind...: Normal the rest is history! cathy rush left Immaculata in 1977 compiling... The team won two additional titles in 1973 and 1974 on display around the gym followed by! To call them catalysts ads hinders our ability to serve you the you. 14-20, the Mighty Macs had a tougher time against Southern Connecticut State University in Normal, Illinois on Archives. Reaching the Final four in. `` various events and displays depicting the teams achievements 18 years ago, entire. Archives, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries. [ 8 ] the sidelines for shining the national on... Prominence and their equally young coach raised the profile and changed the perception womens... Campus community will celebrate the Mighty Macs winning history has also reached the silver screen the following year and someplace! 1972-1974 teams followed suit by being inducted in 2014, the Maggie Dixon Classic is annually held there, over! A Who 's Who of college sports, the Mighty Macs continued to be remembered was n't going to to., though, beginning a future Stars camp that she still is involved in ``!
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