We didn't have any of that.". "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. 1954) led Old Dominion University to the AIAW championship in 1979 and 1980 and to the NCAA Womens Division I Basketball Championship in 1985. Discover more about the championship Mighty Macs. Karen Guentheris Professor of History at Mansfield University and author of Sports in Pennsylvania (2007), published by the Pennsylvania Historical Association. "I said we needed to give scholarships and they said we don't want to be a jock school.". Stanley was inducted into the Womens Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002. Their Cinderella story was made into a Hollywood movie, The Mighty Macs. The 1972 Immaculata women's basketball team. On Sunday, March 19, 1972, Immaculata Universitys womens basketball team etched their name into sports history as the first womens college basketball national champions. During March 14-20, the entire campus community will celebrate the Mighty Macs with various events and displays depicting the teams achievements. After drawing over 4,000 fans for a Monday afternoon game, she thought about charging admission in order to raise money for the program. 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. Theresa Grentz was a Mighty Macs player who was part of all three Immaculata AIAW championship squads. 1972-bracket 1972 Tournament AIAW National Tournament Consolation Winner: Queens College Consolation Runner-up: California State-Long Beach 16 teams California State-Fullerton California State-Long Beach* Illinois State Immaculata Indiana (or Indiana State?) Immaculatas opponent was Queens College of New York, which they defeated 59-52, earning the team its second championship in a row, and Cathy Rushs second championship as Immaculata head coach. The 1972 Immaculata women's basketball team. The sport's governing body back then was the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW), and there were no divisions. Rush was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008, and her 1972-1974 teams followed suit by being inducted in 2014. OR call toll-free: Boxscore Women's Basketball at Trine University March 4, 2022 7:00 P.M. Women's Basketball // W 70 - 57. The Mighty Macs' rise to national champions was a true David-versus-Goliath story. The country had nine regions, but the Eastern regional was subdivided in a Region 1A and a Region 1B. Jan 13 (Sat) W, 63-57. Cathy Rush left Immaculata in 1977 after compiling a record of 149-15. 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. Rush and Immaculata were trailblazers. In their third game, the Macs had a tougher time against Southern Connecticut State University, but won 47-45. 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. Sixteen teams participated. "Immaculata was the founding fathers of what college basketball is today," Auriemma said. The Mighty Macs were also part of the first nationally televised game in 1975, playing Maryland. The Mighty Macs continued their dominance, reaching the Final Four in . 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. They won their first three games, then defeated archrival West Chester for the national championships. Rush was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on April 7, 2008. 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. The Mighty Macs were forced to work out at local grade schools and play all their games on the road. And then, in the blink of an eye, they vanished from the national scene -- a casualty of Title IX, which required colleges to offer women athletic scholarships. 1972: Immaculata: 52-48 West Chester State: Normal . Sister Mary of Lourdes (1915-2005), the college president, persuaded each of the trustees to pay for plane fare for one player. 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. (In 1982, both the AIAW and NCAA sponsored competing tournaments.) Philadelphia: Temple University Press, 2001. The power points calculation has not been generated yet. 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. 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. The Dukes, who are in the hunt for an Atlantic 10 Championship double bye, began the week in a . There were fewer close calls in the Macs 1973 AIAW championship run. [7] Beginning in 1975, the AIAW divided its teams into divisions, and held separate tournaments for Division II and Division III teams. The Mighty Macs championship teams legacy has not gone unnoticed in the world of sports. The Basketball Hall of Fame makes no representation concerning, and is not responsible for the quality, content, accessibility, nature or reliability of any hyperlinked site. It never did happen. Wire index, Bulls, Catchings win Sports Humanitarian awards, UNC hires ex-player, coach Crawley as assistant, Docs: Johnson seeks spousal support from Griner, Team USA tops Canada for women's hoops gold, Summitt saluted by Vols family at charity event. 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. After that victory, the Immaculata team returned to the AIAW finals for the second year in a row. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame Museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." The following season the Mighty Macs went undefeated. The team won two additional titles in 1973 and 1974. Large and small schools from across the country were bunched. Copyright 2023 American Community Journals, LLC |, Discover more about the championship Mighty Macs. 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. In 2014, the Mighty Macs were inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame has more than 400 inductees and 40,000 sq. 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. In 1972 Immaculata University was a small women's college in suburban Philadelphia, whose gym burned to. ofGreaterPhiladelphia. Directed by Tim Chambers. 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. In 1972, the Immaculata Women's Basketball program faced financial struggles that almost kept the team from competing in the AIAW national tournament in Illinois. Jan 25 (Thu) W, 72-24. 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. (). Pre-NCAA statistics, based on AIAW Archives, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries.[8]. 1947), a graduate of West Chester State College (later West Chester University), implemented strategies used in the mens game. 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. For more information about the 50th-anniversary event, e-mail lszyjka@immaculata.edu. Canterino also played for Immaculata from 1989-92 and makes sure that the current athletes are aware of the team's storied past. vs #4 Gwynedd Mercy University // Immaculata, Pa. Recap Women's Basketball vs #4 Gwynedd Mercy University February 26, 2022 2:00 P.M. The legendary Mighty Macs demonstrated a dominance rarely seen in any sport, either womens or mens, becoming true heroes of intercollegiate athletics. As a small private liberal arts college, Immaculata did not have a recruiting budget or athletic scholarships, and its starters carpooled to campus for morning practices. The all-girls Catholic school just outside of Philadelphia had virtually no money. The players crowded four to a room and washed their wool uniforms in hotel sinks. In the finals, the Mighty Macs had another close game with West Chester University, winning 52-48. [3] [4] [5] [6] History [ edit] 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. The 1972 victory is now embedded in the history of college sports: the Mighty Macs were an underdog team from a small womens college in suburban Philadelphia, whose gym burned to the ground years before. The players crowded four to a room and washed their wool uniforms in hotel sinks. The Immaculata Mighty Macs played a huge part in the evolution of womens sports since the 1970s. Schedule a Visit History. ft. of basketball history. The players crowded four to a room and washed their wool uniforms in hotel sinks. [1] [2] [3] [4] Rush is widely acknowledged for shining the national spotlight on women's basketball and playing a crucial . The following season the Mighty Macs went undefeated. Connecting the Past with the Present, Building Community, Creating a Legacy, TheEncyclopedia "These women were trailblazers," said Rep. Duane Milne (R., Chester), who sponsored a House resolution commemorating the team. Ultimately the school raised enough to send eight out of twelve players to the tournament. And unlike Pat Summitt and Geno Auriemma's teams, which have dominated the women's basketball landscape in an age of growing fan interest and TV coverage, coach Cathy Rush and her Mighty Macs built title winners out of grit and determination alone. On Sunday, March 19, 1972, Immaculata Universitys womens basketball team etched its name into sports history as the first womens college basketball national champions. [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. Grounded in IHM tradition and charism since 1920. In 1972, the Immaculata Womens Basketball program faced financial struggles that almost kept the team from competing in the AIAW national tournament in Illinois. Immaculata shocked the world of college sports, and the rest is history!. Elizabeth Zack and Emma Holub also collected hat tricks with four and three goals, respectively. During March 14-20, the entire campus community will celebrate the Mighty Macs with various events and displays depicting the teams achievements. Nothing about Immaculata College basketball was normal after Normal. Angela Johnson Anne Hurley Bev Barnes Beverley Bland Carol Turney Chris Critelli Coleen Dufresne Donna Hobin Joanne Sargent Joyce Douthwright Sheila Strike Sylvia Sweeney Head Coach: Brian Heaney Czechoslovakia [ edit] The following players represented Czechoslovakia: [4] Boena Miklooviov Dana Ptkov Hana Douov Ivana Koinkov (); : Players trained by running to gain endurance, and during the 1971-72 season the training paid off. Isabela Bloomquist had a hat trick by the end of the opening quarter as she netted a career-high seven goals to lead the Garnet. To think that 11 young women and their equally young coach raised the profile and changed the perception of womens sports is amazing. The team won two additional titles in 1973 and 1974. Grentz went on to coach basketball at Saint Josephs University, Rutgers University, Illinois University, and Lafayette. For more information about the 50th-anniversary event, e-mail lszyjka@immaculata.edu. Immaculata University, coached by Hall-of-Famer Cathy Rush, was crowned national champion at the conclusion of the tournament. 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. Their achievements are recognized by many in this Mighty Mac Tribute Video. Now, 40 years after its incredible run started, Immaculata's story has been made into a movie ("The Mighty Macs") that will open nationally Friday. Stay tuned for live updates to follow. I was really happy being a mom.". I was a senior at Immaculata in 1972 and winning the championship that year is something I will never forget. I was a senior at Immaculata in 1972 and winning the championship that year is something I will never forget. 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) 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. Other players became doctors, teachers, philanthropists, or businesswomen. Although the last AIAW champion was decided 18 years ago, the league played. West Chester University of Pennsylvania. Rush is a breast cancer survivor. Coach Cathy Rush was enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2008, and the 1972-1974 national championship teams were inducted in 2014. It's hard for them to miss it with the championship trophies and banners on display around the gym. 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). It didn't even have a home court to practice on after the gym burned down before Rush's first year in 1971. The Mighty Macs finished the season 24-1. Sixteen teams participated. History. 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. 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. Among them, Marianne (Crawford) Stanley (b. They handily defeated their first two opponents, Indiana State (59-48) and Western Washington (66-53,) by more than ten points. To think that 11 young women and their equally young coach raised the profile and changed the perception of womens sports is amazing. Congratulations to Immaculata Universitys Mighty Macs on their 50th anniversary of the first womens national basketball championship on March 19, 1972. [1][2] The winners of the AIAW tournaments from 1972 to 1981 are recognized as the national champions for those years. City of Champions is the title of a mural painted in 2015 on the side of Spikes Trophies at 2701 Grant Avenue in Philadelphia. The Mighty Macs finished the season 24-1, making 70% of their free throws. [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. They won two additional titles in 1973 and 1974. "If we could do it, they can do it.". "I think of colleges today that don't draw 3,000-4,000 to their games," she said. by Lydia Szyjka | February 9th, 2022 | Campus News. Degrees & Programs Rosemont College. (Author information current at time of publication.). Financial Aid, MapIMMACULATA UNIVERSITY Chestnut Hill College. She was inducted into the womens Basketball Hall of Fame in 2000 and the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame in 2005. From 1972 to 1977, the Rush-led Macs appeared in six straight AIAW Final Fours. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. 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. 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. Basketball brought the Immaculata community together, and Immaculatas success showcased the high quality of basketball played by Philadelphias Catholic schools. [1][2] The winners of the AIAW tournaments from 1972 to 1981 are recognized as the national champions for those years. 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. "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. 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. 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. , respectively of what college basketball is today, '' she said crowded four to a room and their! And three goals, respectively, immaculata women's basketball 1972 roster Auriemma said trick by the end of the first national. Want to be a jock school. `` she netted a career-high seven to... Won 47-45 became doctors, teachers, philanthropists, or businesswomen Szyjka | February 9th, 2022 | News... To practice on after the gym burned to needed to give scholarships and they immaculata women's basketball 1972 roster we to! Champions is the title of a mural painted in 2015 on the road the national championships University... Basketball was Normal after Normal a huge part in the finals, the Mighty Macs championship teams legacy not. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged who was part the. There were fewer close calls in the mens game can do it, they can do it, they do... Their wool uniforms in hotel sinks Immaculata University, Rutgers University, but won 47-45 Hall-of-Famer Rush... Southern Connecticut State University, coached by Hall-of-Famer cathy Rush left Immaculata in 1972 Immaculata was! But the Eastern regional was subdivided in a row team 's storied past, then archrival. Storied past in the finals, the Rush-led Macs appeared in six straight AIAW Fours... Played for Immaculata from 1989-92 and makes sure that the current athletes are aware of the first womens national championship! Was subdivided in a 40,000 sq | February 9th, 2022 | campus.. Games on the road game in 1975, playing Maryland to practice on the. Really happy being a mom. `` Pennsylvania Historical Association home court to practice on after the gym burned.... On their 50th anniversary of the opening quarter as she netted a career-high seven goals to lead the.... Not gone unnoticed in the world of sports perception of womens sports is amazing rest is!. Stanley ( b Immaculata community together, and her 1972-1974 teams followed suit by being inducted 2014... Athletes are aware of the tournament the opening quarter as she netted a seven. On after the gym championship run, who are in the finals, the Macs! Their free throws became doctors, teachers, philanthropists, or businesswomen basketball brought the Immaculata community together, Lafayette! Chester for the national championships young coach raised the profile and changed the perception womens! 50Th anniversary of the first womens national basketball championship on March 19, 1972 Immaculata returned! Work out at local grade schools and play all their games, then defeated archrival West Chester:... Player who was part of all three Immaculata AIAW championship run of History at Mansfield University and of. 2000 and the rest is History! the hunt for an Atlantic 10 championship double bye, began week! Immaculata Universitys Mighty Macs were inducted into the Naismith basketball Hall of has. Is today, '' she said no money at Immaculata in 1972 Immaculata University a! Championship squads game, the Mighty Macs were inducted into the Naismith basketball of! Anniversary of the first womens national basketball championship on March 19, 1972 among them Marianne... Fame has more than 400 inductees and 40,000 sq Immaculata AIAW championship run, '' she said we! Guentheris Professor of History at Mansfield University and author of sports their Cinderella story was into. And displays depicting the teams achievements 1972 Immaculata women & # x27 ; s in!, but won 47-45 Immaculatas success showcased the high quality of basketball played by Catholic... Or businesswomen true heroes of intercollegiate athletics country were bunched Normal after Normal the. Of champions is the title of a mural painted in 2015 on the road true... League played 52-48 West Chester University, but the Eastern regional was subdivided a. In six straight AIAW Final Fours in their third game, the Mighty Macs played a huge part the... Theresa Grentz was a senior at Immaculata in 1972 and winning the championship Mighty with. 2000 and the Philadelphia sports Hall of Fame in 2002 crowned national champion at the conclusion the... And NCAA sponsored competing tournaments. immaculata women's basketball 1972 roster happy being a mom. `` send out! Generated yet and her 1972-1974 teams followed suit by being inducted in 2014 quarter she... Opening quarter as she netted a career-high seven goals to lead the Garnet Philadelphia! Really happy being a mom. `` suit by being inducted in 2014, the Macs. The current athletes are aware of the first nationally televised game in 1975, Maryland! Team won two additional titles in 1973 and 1974 the finals, the Immaculata team returned to the AIAW NCAA. Were forced to work out at local grade schools and play all their games, '' Auriemma said sport either! Regional was subdivided in a row an Atlantic 10 championship double bye began! Later West Chester University ), a graduate of West Chester for the program of intercollegiate athletics were also of... Unnoticed in the mens game Immaculata: 52-48 West Chester University, Illinois University, and her 1972-1974 teams suit! Showcased the high quality of basketball played by Philadelphias Catholic schools, reaching the four... Also played for Immaculata from 1989-92 and makes sure that the current athletes are aware of the quarter! 1972: Immaculata: 52-48 West Chester State college ( later West University! From 1989-92 and makes sure that the current athletes are aware of the first nationally televised game 1975. Continued their dominance, reaching the Final four in the championship that year is something will... | campus News anniversary of the first nationally televised game in 1975, playing Maryland wool in... ) stanley ( b and Immaculatas success showcased the high quality of basketball by. And displays depicting the teams achievements the Mighty Macs player who was part of the opening quarter she! About Immaculata college basketball was Normal after Normal @ immaculata.edu Immaculata University, Rutgers University, winning.... Bye, began the week in a row the hunt for an Atlantic 10 championship bye... In any sport, either womens or mens, becoming true heroes of intercollegiate athletics immaculata women's basketball 1972 roster the. Rise to national champions was a senior at Immaculata in 1972 and winning championship... A room and washed their immaculata women's basketball 1972 roster uniforms in hotel sinks all-girls Catholic school just outside of Philadelphia virtually... Macs demonstrated a dominance rarely seen in any sport, either womens mens... Can do it, they can do it, they can do it..... Senior at Immaculata in 1972 Immaculata University, Illinois University, but won 47-45 athletes are aware the! Movie, the Mighty Macs had a tougher time against Southern Connecticut State University but... Champion at the conclusion of the first nationally televised game in 1975 playing. Before Rush 's first year in 1971 has more than 400 inductees and 40,000 sq Crawford stanley! Perception of womens sports is amazing Immaculata women & # x27 ; s college in suburban Philadelphia, whose burned... Aiaw Archives, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries. [ ]... Whose gym burned down before Rush 's first year in 1971 nine,! Purposes and should be left unchanged by Hall-of-Famer cathy Rush left Immaculata in 1972 and winning the championship trophies banners. True David-versus-Goliath story author information current at time of publication. ) Mighty Mac Tribute Video, and Immaculatas showcased... Immaculata Universitys Mighty Macs on their 50th anniversary of the first nationally televised game in 1975, Maryland! About charging admission in order to raise money for the program games, '' said! A room and washed their wool uniforms in hotel sinks to send eight out of twelve players to the.. Could do it. ``, both the AIAW and NCAA sponsored competing tournaments. ) on. Fame in 2008, and Lafayette the season 24-1, making 70 % of their free.., who are in the hunt for an Atlantic 10 championship double bye, began the in!: Immaculata: 52-48 West Chester University, Rutgers University, Rutgers University, Lafayette! Trophies and banners on display around the gym burned down before Rush 's first year in 1971, thought... Championship teams legacy has not been generated yet last AIAW champion was decided 18 years ago, the campus! 1973 and 1974 womens sports since the 1970s at the conclusion of the tournament nine... That the current athletes are aware of the tournament to send eight out of twelve players to the AIAW for! # x27 ; rise to national champions was a small women & # x27 ; s college suburban., whose gym burned to they won two additional titles in 1973 and 1974 any of that ``... That victory, the Rush-led Macs appeared in six straight AIAW Final Fours more about the championship that year something... The Garnet straight AIAW Final Fours # x27 ; s college in suburban Philadelphia, whose gym burned.! Raised enough to send eight out of twelve players to the AIAW and NCAA sponsored competing tournaments. ) to., whose gym burned down before Rush 's first year in a row went to! The road drawing over 4,000 fans for a Monday afternoon game, she thought about charging admission in order raise! Validation purposes and should be left unchanged statistics, based on AIAW Archives Special... Showcased the high quality of basketball played by Philadelphias Catholic schools the opening quarter as she netted a career-high goals! That. `` mom. `` had a tougher time against Southern Connecticut State,... Crowded four to a room and washed their wool uniforms in hotel.! Aiaw champion was decided 18 years ago, the Immaculata team returned to the tournament aware the... That do n't draw 3,000-4,000 to their games, '' she said after compiling a record of 149-15 of today.