Hall of Fame
The 1977-78 women's basketball team was Mount Olive's first women's varsity intercollegiate team. That year's team included two UMO Athletics Hall of Famers, head coach Larry Dean and student-athlete Sarah Leonard. Also on the Trojan roster were Rhonda Amerson, Kelley Farthing, Macon Hopkins, Pat Johnson, Brenda Jones, Sheila Keel, Vickie Shingleton, Twillah Taylor and Rosalind Weeks. Rose Mary Altman was the trainer/manager; Celeste Gaskins was the scorekeeper, and Julia Hairr was the statistician.
Coach Larry Dean spoke on behalf of the team and what an amazing experience it was at Mount Olive.
"Dr. Raper said one thing I will never forget he said we were going to start women's basketball, not because of Title Nine but because it was the right thing to do!"
"These girls were the cornerstone of women's athletics, and they worked hard and were successful".
The women's basketball team becomes the second recipient of the Pioneer Award. The 1965-66 men's basketball team – the longest-running men's sport – won the award last year.
