Ayrton Oneill
Lusia Lucy Harris, also known as the Queen of Basketball, was a pioneering force in women's basketball. She was the first woman to score a basket in the Olympics, led the USA women's basketball team to a silver medal in 1976, and became the first woman to be officially drafted into the NBA. Harris was also the first Black woman to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. Her skill, strength, and leadership helped the Delta State University women's basketball team win three national titles in a row from 1975 to 1977. Harris died in 2022 at the age of 66, leaving behind a remarkable legacy in the world of basketball.
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Lusia Harris's career at Delta State University
Lusia Harris, also known as Lucy, had a stellar career at Delta State University, where she played for the women's basketball team. She was recruited by assistant coach Melvin Hemphill to play for Margaret Wade, who was restarting the collegiate women's team at the university. Harris was the only African American player on the team.
In her first year at Delta State (1973–74), Harris helped the Lady Statesmen achieve a 16–2 record. However, they finished third in the regional tournament and failed to qualify for the national tournament. The following year (1974–75 season), the team qualified for the national tournament and went all the way to the final, where they defeated Immaculata University 90–81. Harris scored 32 points and recorded 16 rebounds in the final. The 1974–75 season was the only undefeated college season that year, with a 28–0 record. This was also the first year that women's basketball games were nationally televised by a major network.
In her senior year (1976–77), Harris and the Delta State team played a game in Madison Square Garden, where Harris scored 47 points. This was one of the first women's basketball games ever played at the venue. That year, Delta State went to the national tournament final for the third year in a row and defeated Louisiana State University 68–55. Harris achieved 23 points and 16 rebounds in the final, and she was named the national tournament's most valuable player. During her time at Delta State, Harris averaged 25.9 points and 14.4-14.5 rebounds per game, lifting the team to a 109-6 record. She still holds the school's career record for points (2,891 or 2,981) and rebounds (1,662).
Harris was also a member of the United States' national team. She won a gold medal at the 1975 Pan American Games and a silver medal at the 1976 Olympic Games, where she scored the first points in the first game of the tournament—the first-ever Olympic women's basketball game.
Harris's accomplishments have been recognized through her induction into several halls of fame, including the National Basketball Hall of Fame (1992), the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame (1999), and the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame (1990). She was also the subject of a documentary, "The Queen of Basketball," which brought her well-deserved recognition and introduced her to a new generation of women's basketball fans.
Baylor's Basketball Division: D1 Status and Success
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The 1975 Pan American Games
The idea for the Pan American Games was first proposed at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, where Latin American members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) suggested creating a competition among all the countries in the Americas. The inaugural games were scheduled to take place in Buenos Aires in 1942 but were postponed due to World War II. Eventually, the first Pan American Games were held in 1951 in Buenos Aires, featuring 18 sports and 2,513 participants from 14 nations.
The Pan American Games, also known as the Pan Am Games, is a continental multi-sport event held every four years among athletes from nations in the Americas. It is the second-oldest continental games event in the world, featuring thousands of athletes competing in various summer sports. The host city is responsible for organizing and funding the Games, which include rituals and symbols such as the flag and torch, as well as opening and closing ceremonies.
The 1975 Games in Mexico City faced some challenges with host city selection. Initially, Santiago was chosen to host the event, but they dropped out in 1973, followed by São Paulo in 1974. Mexico City stepped in with just ten months to prepare. Despite the short notice, the Games were successfully held, with Mexico and the Dominican Republic finishing with a 5-3 record, followed by Colombia at 3-5, Canada and Puerto Rico at 2-6, and El Salvador at 0-8.
Basketball League: Know the Start Date
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The 1976 Summer Olympics
Lusia Harris, also known as "Lucy," was a dominant force in college basketball. She was the only Black player on the Delta State University team, leading them to three consecutive Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) National Championships from 1975 to 1977. Harris was so impressive that she even caught the attention of NBA franchises, although she ultimately turned down their offers. In 1977, she became the first Black woman inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, and the first and only woman officially drafted by the NBA when the New Orleans Jazz selected her in the seventh round.
Basketball's Rise to Fame: A Historical Perspective
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Harris's induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame
Lusia "Lucy" Harris, the "Queen of Basketball", was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992. She was the first Black woman to be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame, and the first female college player to be enshrined there.
Harris was a dominant force on the Delta State University women's basketball team, leading them to three consecutive Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) National Championships from 1975 to 1977. She was also the first woman to score a basket in the Olympics, representing the USA team in 1976 and leading them to a silver medal. In 1977, she became the first woman to be officially drafted into the NBA when she was selected by the New Orleans Jazz in the seventh round, although she turned down their offer to start a family.
Harris finished her college career with 2,981 points and 1,662 rebounds, averaging an impressive 25.9 points and 14.5 rebounds per game. She was also the only African American player on the Delta State team at the time, and her skill, strength, and leadership helped to defy the odds and achieve the unthinkable on the basketball court.
Harris' incredible career and impact on the sport were celebrated in the documentary "The Queen of Basketball", which was nominated for an Academy Award. Her legacy continues to inspire future generations of basketball players and she will forever be remembered as a pioneer of the game.
Blocked Shots: Counted as Attempts?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Harris's legacy and impact on women's basketball
Lusia "Lucy" Harris, also known as the "Queen of Basketball", is considered one of the greatest female basketball players ever. She was a dominant force on the Delta State University women's basketball team, leading them to three consecutive Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) National Championships from 1975 to 1977. Harris was the only Black player on the team, and her skill set, strength, and leadership helped the team secure victory after victory. She finished her college career with an impressive 2,981 points and 1,662 rebounds, averaging 25.9 points and 14.5 rebounds per game.
Harris's impact extended beyond her college career. In 1975, she represented the United States in the FIBA World Championship for Women in Colombia and the Pan American Games in Mexico City, where the team won the gold medal. The following year, she was selected to play for the USA team in the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, Canada, the first year that women's basketball was included in the Olympic Games. She scored the first points ever in Olympic women's basketball history, helping the team win the silver medal.
In 1977, Harris became the first woman officially drafted into the NBA when the New Orleans Jazz selected her in the seventh round. However, she turned down the offer to start a family and became a basketball coach at her high school alma mater. Harris was also inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992 as the first Black woman to receive this honour.
Harris's legacy is that of a pioneer who defied the odds and achieved the unthinkable. She has inspired generations of athletes and continues to be celebrated through documentaries and films, ensuring that her story reaches an even wider audience. Her impact on women's basketball is undeniable, and she will forever be remembered as a true legend of the game.
Wilmington, NC: High School Basketball Playoffs Schedule
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Lucy Harris, also known as Lusia Harris, was a dominant force on the Delta State University Women's Basketball Team. She was the only Black player on the team and led them to three consecutive Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) National Championships from 1975-77. Harris was also the first woman to score a basket in the Olympics and led the USA to a silver medal in 1976.
Harris was selected by the New Orleans Jazz in the seventh round of the 1977 NBA draft, becoming the first woman ever officially drafted into the NBA. However, she turned down the offer to start a family and became a basketball coach at her high school alma mater.
Harris is considered a pioneer of women's basketball and one of the best female basketball players ever. She was inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992 as the first Black woman to receive that honour. She was also the subject of the documentary "The Queen of Basketball", which helped bring her story to a wider audience.
Harris finished her college career with 2,981 points and 1,662 rebounds, averaging 25.9 points and 14.5 rebounds per game. In the 1974-75 season, she led Delta State to an undefeated 28-0 record and was named the tournament's most valuable player. She was also named to the All-American first team during Delta State's three winning seasons.
Harris represented the United States in the 1975 Pan American Games, winning a gold medal, and played professionally for the Houston Angels in the Women's Professional Basketball League (WBL). She also won the inaugural Honda Sports Award for basketball and the Broderick Cup for outstanding female athletes in college.
