GREENSBORO - The Atlantic Coast Conference Tuesday announced its 12th annual class of ACC Women's Basketball Legends presented by New York Life. The Legends will be recognized at the 2016 ACC Women's Basketball Tournament, which will be held March 2-6 at the Greensboro Coliseum.
Virginia Tech standout Renee Dennis will be honored in this year's class. She played for the Hokies 1983-87 and is still the all-time leading scorer in program history. In addition, Dennis is the only women's basketball player to have her jersey retired.
The Legends will be honored at the annual ACC Women's Basketball Legends Brunch on Saturday, March 5, at 10 a.m., and then will be introduced to the Coliseum crowd at halftime of the first semifinal game that afternoon. The ACC Women's Basketball Legends program honors both players and coaches from each of the ACC's 15 schools who have contributed to their respective institutions rich tradition.
Tickets for the ACC Women’s Basketball Legends Brunch are $35 each. Information on purchasing tickets may be obtained at the official ACC website: http://theacc.co/WBB16LEGENDSTIX.
Included in this year's class are 15 former-student-athletes who represent four decades of women's basketball. Below is a complete list of this year's Legends, and the accolades from their playing careers.
2016 ACC Women’s Basketball Legends Roster
Name | School | Years | Position | Hometown |
Amber (Jacobs) Osborn | Boston College | 2000-04 | Guard | Clarks Summit, Pa. |
Chrissy Floyd | Clemson | 2000-03 | Guard | Laurens, S.C. |
Iciss Rose Tillis | Duke | 2000-04 | Forward | Tulsa, Okla. |
Courtney Ward | Florida State | 2007-11 | Guard | Montgomery, Ala. |
Dr. Carla (Munnion) Eppel | Georgia Tech | 1995-98 | Guard | Lebanon, Pa. |
Angel McCoughtry | Louisville | 2005-09 | Forward | Baltimore, Md. |
Sylvia Wilson | Miami | 1979-82 | Center | Haines City, Fla. |
LaQuanda Barksdale Quick | North Carolina | 1997-2001 | Forward | Winston-Salem, N.C. |
Tammy Gibson | NC State | 1990-95 | Guard | Hartsville, S.C. |
Brittany Mallory | Notre Dame | 2007-12 | Guard | Baltimore, Md. |
Jonna Huemrich Burke | Pittsburgh | 1990-94 | Forward | Bethel Park, Pa. |
Paula (Moore) Rivers | Syracuse | 1996-2001 | Forward/Center | Bridgeport, Conn. |
Tora A. Suber | Virginia | 1994-97 | Guard | Downingtown, Pa. |
Renee Dennis | Virginia Tech | 1983-87 | Forward | Bridgeport, Conn. |
Barbara Buchanan Helms | Wake Forest | 1981-84 | Forward | Winston-Salem, N.C. |
BOSTON COLLEGE – Amber (Jacobs) Osborn, Guard, Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania (2000-04)
Considered one of the best all-time players in women’s basketball history, Amber Jacobs was a member of two NCAA Tournament teams at BC. When Jacobs graduated, she was fourth on the all-time scoring list with 1,544 and fifth on the all-time assists board with 469 helpers. She is one of only four players in program history to score over 1,000 points with over 400 assists. As a junior, she hit back-to-back game-winning shots in the NCAA Tournament first and second rounds that were named as the third best moment of the 2003 tournament, according to ESPN’s “Top Ten Moments”. The two buzzer-beaters placed BC into the Sweet Sixteen round for the first time. She led the Eagles to their first-ever Big East Championship in 2003-04 season. Jacobs played in 123 games, averaged 12.2 points per game and 3.8 assists over four years. In the 2004 WNBA Draft, Jacobs was selected by the Minnesota Lynx 33rd overall. She played in the WNBA for Minnesota Lynx for three seasons and the final season with the Washington Mystics and LA Sparks until 2008. She was the Assistant Athletic Director and Head Women’s Basketball coach at Summit University. She recently married, David Osborn and moved to Carol Stream, Illinois where she is currently the Coordinator of Scheduling and Events with PGC Basketball.
CLEMSON - Chrissy Floyd, Guard, Laurens, S.C., (2000-03)
Chrissy Floyd, Clemson's first four-time All-ACC women's basketball player, was a member of the Tigers from 1999-2003. She finished her career with 1,937 points, second on Clemson's career list and 15th in ACC history. Floyd was a First-Team All-ACC selection in 2001-02 and 2002-03 and a second team All-ACC pick in 1999-00 and 2000-01. Floyd also was named a Kodak District II All-American in 2000-01, 2001-02, and 2002-03. Floyd led the ACC in free-throw percentage (81.8) as a sophomore in 2000-01, and led the team in scoring for the four seasons, just the second Lady Tiger to do it. To add to her record-setting career at Clemson, Floyd was sixth in school history in career steals (218) and fourth in three-point field goals (124). Floyd was named to the ACC's 50-Year Anniversary team in 2002. In 2001, Floyd played on the USA World University Games team, as the squad captured the gold medal with a 7-1 record. She was named to the USA team again in 2003. Floyd played under Head Coach Jim Davis and graduated with a degree in marketing. She was selected 37th overall in the third round of the 2003 WNBA draft by the Seattle Storm and became only the second Lady Tiger to be drafted by the league. Floyd currently serves as a credit analyst.
DUKE - Iciss Rose Tillis, Forward, Tulsa, Okla. (2000-04)
One of the most versatile players in Duke history, Iciss Tillis made a lasting impact on the Blue Devil women’s basketball program during her four years. A native of Tulsa, Okla., Tillis guided Duke to four straight ACC Championships, NCAA Final Four appearances in 2002 and 2003 and a 126-14 overall record in her career. Tillis was Duke’s fourth Kodak All-America selection as a junior, a three-time All-ACC honoree, three-time Associated Press Honorable Mention All-America and a two-time ACC Tournament MVP. She accumulated 1,712 points, 946 rebounds, 301 assists, 151 blocks and 270 steals as she started 127 of 137 contests. Tillis tallied 25 double-doubles, 88 games of double-figure scoring and 28 contests with 10 or more rebounds. In the Duke record books, she ranks seventh in scoring, fourth in rebounds, fifth in steals, sixth in blocks and tied third in overall wins (124). Tillis was the eighth-quickest Duke player to register 1,000 career points in only 84 games. Her 59 ACC wins ranks first on Duke’s career record books. Tillis went on to be drafted in the first round of the 2004 WNBA Draft by the Detroit Shock. She is currently in law school at Columbia University.
FLORIDA STATE – Courtney Ward, Guard, Montgomery, Ala. (2007-11)
A fantastic four-year player at Florida State, point guard Courtney Ward was the floor general during a very important era in Seminole Women’s Basketball history from 2007-11. During Ward’s time as part of the Garnet and Gold, she helped FSU record two ACC regular-season titles and the school’s first-ever trip to the NCAA Elite Eight in 2010. While at FSU, Ward shattered the career assists record with 602, being the only Seminole not only to record 600 or more assists but also 500 or more dishes as well. She was lethal from beyond the arc, finishing second in program history with a 39.8 shooting percentage from downtown, which included going 50 percent as a sophomore. Ward ended her FSU career as a two-time All-ACC player, establishing herself as one of the best point guards in the conference during her time in Tallahassee. As a junior she was the catalyst that helped lift the Seminoles to their first NCAA Elite Eight trip, scoring in double figures in 23 games, leading FSU in assists in 24 games and also leading the Seminoles in steals in 16 games as they finished with a then-school record 29 wins. A native of Montgomery, Ala., Ward finished her solid career averaging 8.9 points, 3.4 rebounds and 4.5 assists. She is employed by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department and serves as the head girls basketball coach at Sidney Lainer High School.
GEORGIA TECH – Dr. Carla (Munnion) Eppel, Guard, Lebanon, Pa. (1994-98)
Georgia Tech’s Carla Munnion cemented herself in Georgia Tech women’s basketball history during her time on the Flats from 1994-98. Munnion finished her career with 1,671 points which was the fourth highest in Georgia Tech history at the time. Her career scoring efforts currently rank fifth all-time and her career average of 14.9 points per game is sixth in Georgia Tech’s record book. Munnion made 169 3-pointers in her time as a guard for the Yellow Jackets, which is good for fifth all-time at Georgia Tech. She was the 14th player in Georgia Tech school history to score 1,000 points. As a sophomore, Munnion was an honorable mention all-ACC performer after leading the Jackets in scoring with 17.2 points per game average. As a freshman, Munnion was named to the ACC All-Freshman team in 1995 after averaging 15.8 points per game and 5.9 rebounds per game in her debut season. She was named the ACC Player of the Week twice during her senior sophomore season. Munnion was the all-time leading scorer (male or female) with 2,256 career points in all of Lebanon County high school history. Her number 24 is retired at Cedar Crest High School and she is from Lebanon, Pa. Munnion currently resides in Pensacola, Fla., with her husband and two sons. Dr. Eppel is a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy as a dentist.
LOUISVILLE – Angel McCoughtry, Forward, Baltimore, Md. (2005-09)
Angel McCoughtry was one of the most decorated college basketball players in Louisville history. A three-time WBCA All-American, McCoughtry capped her career as the program’s all-time leader in points (2,779), rebounds (1,261) and steals (481), and her point total ranks in the top 25 all-time in NCAA Division I history. In addition to leading Louisville to its first national championship game in 2009, she captured Raleigh Regional MVP honors and was named to the NCAA Championship All-Tournament Team that year. Among her many athletic honors, she earned 2007 BIG EAST Player of the Year and 2009 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year accolades. McCoughtry, who graduated in 2009 with a degree in communication, was taken No. 1 overall in the WNBA Draft by the Atlanta Dream. She earned the league’s rookie of the year award that season and has been selected a league all-star four times. Internationally, McCoughtry has helped the U.S. win four gold medals, including one at the 2012 Olympic Games. On Nov. 12, 2010, McCoughtry became the first Louisville women’s basketball player to have her jersey retired by the school.
MIAMI – Sylvia Wilson, Center, Haines City, Fla. (1979-82)
One of the finest players in Miami history, the late Wilson amassed 1,713 points in her three collegiate seasons. That was the most ever by a Hurricane at the time and still ranks eighth all-time. Wilson remains the program’s all-time leader in rebounds (1,125), rebounding average (11.3) and blocked shots (198). Her 449 total rebounds and 11.8 rebounds per game in 1980-81 are both single-season school records, as are her 80 blocked shots in 1979-80. Wilson led the Hurricanes in scoring, rebounding and blocks in each of her Miami seasons, while finishing first in field goal percentage in twice. Wilson is one of just seven Miami players to ever record 15-plus made field goals in a game, one of four to block at least seven shots in a contest and the only Hurricane to tally 20-plus rebounds in a game on three occasions. In 1979-80, Wilson and Jill Poorman became the first-ever all-conference honorees in Miami history when they were selected to the All-FSAC First Team. Wilson received the honor again in 1980-81, making her the first of six Hurricanes to garner multiple first team all-conference accolades.
NORTH CAROLINA – LaQuanda Barksdale Quick, Forward, Winston-Salem, N.C. (1997-2001)
LaQuanda Barksdale was North Carolina’s first All-American of the 21st century, earning that honor from the Women’s Basketball News Service and the Women’s Basketball Journal in 2001. A two-time first team All-ACC selection, Barksdale ranks seventh in career three-point percentage, eighth in total rebounds, ninth in rebounding average and 10th in free throw percentage in Tar Heel history. The four-year letter winner amassed 1,787 points, the 11th highest total by a Tar Heel player, and her No. 33 jersey hangs from the Carmichael Arena rafters. She competed in 130 career games, making 92 starts for head coach Sylvia Hatchell. Barksdale guided the 1998 team to the ACC Tournament Championship, and three appearances in the NCAA Tournament that saw the Tar Heels reach the Elite 8 in 1998 and the Sweet 16 in both 1999 and 2000. Barksdale was the 12th overall pick in the 2001 WNBA Draft by the Portland Fire. She spent three seasons in the league with Portland and the San Antonio Silver Stars, and also played overseas in Israel, Turkey and China. After a successful run as a coach and teacher at West Forsyth High School in Clemmons, North Carolina., Barksdale was named an assistant coach at Winston-Salem State University for the 2015-16 school year.
NC STATE – Tammy Gibson, Guard, Hartsville, S.C. (1990-95)
A standout in the backcourt for legendary head coach Kay Yow, Gibson ranks seventh all-time in program history with 1,686 points. A member of the Wolfpack’s 1991 ACC Tournament Championship team, she ranks fourth in program history with 230 career made 3-pointers. Gibson was named to the 1991 All-ACC Freshman Team and was named All-ACC Second Team in 1993 and 1995. She selected as the Wolfpack’s MVP her senior year. Gibson was NC State’s scoring leader during the 1992-93 season, averaging 20.3 points per game, and the team’s most accurate three-point shooter in 1991-92 (.409) and 1992-93 (.415). She also displayed accuracy at the foul line, leading NC State in 1991-92 with a .784 free-throw percentage, and in 1992-93 at .709. She scored 38 points in a single game against FAU on Dec. 30, 1992 – a mark that ranks tied for sixth in program history. Her 547 points during the 1992-93 season are the 15th highest single-season total in history, and her 86 made 3-pointers that season rank second all-time at NC State. Gibson resides in her hometown of Hartsville, South Carolina, with her daughter and works as an employment specialist.
NOTRE DAME – Brittany Mallory, Guard, Baltimore, Md. (2007-12)
Brittany Mallory was a gritty, feisty guard who was one of the cornerstones of Notre Dame’s NCAA national runner-up squads in 2011 and 2012. The Baltimore native still holds the program record for career games played (151) and she ranks among the top 10 in school history for career steals (6th – 272) and three-pointers made (7th – 153). A two-year team captain, Mallory helped the Fighting Irish to 120 wins, four Sweet 16 appearances and two Final Fours during her four full seasons, having missed the majority of the 2008-09 season with a knee injury. She also rose to the occasion on the biggest stages, none larger than at the 2012 NCAA Final Four, when her two three-pointers in overtime lifted Notre Dame to an 83-75 win over UConn and the program’s second consecutive national championship game appearance. Mallory earned her bachelor’s degree in management-entrepreneurship from Notre Dame’s Mendoza College of Business in 2011, and currently lives in her hometown of Baltimore, where she works as a supply chain analyst for global security firm Northrop Grumman and serves as an assistant girls’ basketball coach at Seton Keough High School.
PITT – Jonna Huemrich Burke, Forward, Bethel Park, Pa. (1990-94)
Jonna Huemrich’s impact on women’s basketball in the Pittsburgh community extends well beyond her playing days. As a player from 1990-94, Huemrich compiled 1,807 points, which ranks seventh on Pitt’s career scoring list. Along with being a prolific scorer, Huemrich affected the game in other ways by tallying 954 rebounds and 224 steals, putting her among the Panthers’ all-time top 10 in those categories as well. She was the 1990-91 Big East Rookie of the Year. She went on to earn second-team conference honors as a sophomore, and first-team honors as a junior and senior. A Pittsburgh native and standout at Bethel Park, Huemrich was inducted into her high school Hall of Fame in 2001. She has been the head women’s basketball coach there since 2003 and led her team to the 2013 Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League (WPIAL) title. She was also a 2010 inductee into the Western Chapter of the Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame.
SYRACUSE – Paula (Moore) Rivers, Forward/Center, Bridgeport, Conn. (1996-2001)
One of the all-time greats in program history, Paula Moore ranks among the top 10 all-time in five statistical categories at Syracuse. The two-time All-BIG EAST honoree ranks 11th in program history with 1,254 career points and fifth in school history in career field goal percentage. She also ranks eighth in free throws made, fourth in free throws attempted, 10th in rebounds and 10th in blocked shots per game. After redshirting the 1999-2000 season due to injury, Moore returned to the team the following season and ranked second on the team in scoring and third in rebounding. Overall, Moore played in 99 games for the Orange. She married Chris Rivers and the couple has four sons. She is employed as a principal human resource specialist for the Connecticut State Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
VIRGINIA - Tora A. Suber, Guard, Downington, Pa. (1994-97)
In four years, Tora Suber cemented her name in the Virginia record books, leading the Cavaliers to three-straight ACC regular-season championships and back-to-back appearances in the NCAA’s Elite Eight. The Cavaliers earned spots in the NCAA Championship in all four seasons and finished with a 103-25 record during that span. Suber, who played in all but one game during her time at Virginia, finished her outstanding career as a Naismith Finalist and was named to the Basketball Weekly All-America first team and AP Honorable Mention All-American. She graduated as the all-time leader in 3-point field goals made (220) and still holds that record today. Suber also ranks among the top 10 in five other categories: fifth in assists (504), sixth in free throws made (345), seventh in career points (1,767), ninth in steals (223) and 10th in scoring average (13.9). A two-time All-ACC first team selection, Suber was picked in the first round as the seventh pick overall of the 1997 WNBA draft by the Charlotte Sting. She played professionally for two seasons. Suber is employed by the New York City Department of Education.
VIRGINIA TECH – Renee Dennis, Forward, Bridgeport, Conn. (1983-87)
The late Renee Dennis is one of the most prolific players in the history of Virginia Tech, with her name appearing throughout the school record book two decades following her playing days. She remains Virginia Tech's career scoring leader with 1,791 points and holds the record for points in a home game with 34 against Memphis in 1987. She also has the highest career scoring average (15.6) in addition to holding career records in field-goal attempts (1,461) and free-throw attempts (638), as well as ranking second in field-goals made (680) and free throws made (431). In addition, Dennis was strong on the boards, tallying 792 rebounds to rank fourth on Tech’s all-time list. She led the team in scoring and scoring average in each of her final three seasons and was a first-team All-Metro Conference selection in 1986 and 1987. Dennis’ No. 44 jersey was retired in 1987, making her the first female athlete at Tech to have her jersey retired. She was inducted into the Virginia Tech Hall of Fame in 1997. Dennis passed away on August 4, 2015 following a hard-fought battle with cancer.
WAKE FOREST – Barbara Buchanan Helms, Forward, Winston-Salem, N.C. (1980-84)
Barbara Buchanan Helms was one of the key figures in Wake Forest women’s basketball history, helping the Demon Deacons transition from a struggling Division II program into a strong member of the Atlantic Coast Conference. A four-year letterman from 1980-84, Buchanan Helms made an immediate impact, earning team MVP honors as a freshman and averaging 11.4 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. As part of head coach Wanda Briley’s first recruiting class, Buchanan also earned the distinction of being the first player to sign with Wake Forest in 1980. Four years later, she became just the third Demon Deacon women’s basketball player to eclipse the 1,000-point mark. She finished her career with 1,023 points and 619 rebounds. Buchanan went on to earn a master’s degree from Appalachian State and spent seven years at Lenoir-Rhyne as a college head coach. She is currently in her 13th year as the head coach at Hickory (N.C.) High School, where her teams have won over 92 percent of the nearly 400 games played under her watch. Buchanan Helms is married with two sons.
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