April 6, 2006
NORFOLK, VA--In celebration of the 75th anniversary of Old Dominion University, Anne Donovan ('83), Ticha Penicheiro ('98) and Nancy Lieberman ('80)headline the 15-member all-time ODU Lady Monarch basketball squad as voted bythe fans on the ODU athletic website, announced today by the athletic department. In all,the squad includes the top ten scorers in the school's history, three Olympians, two members of the Naismith and Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, and all five retired jersey's players.
Donovan who is currently the head coach of the WNBA Seattle Storm andthe USA Olympic National team appeared on 77 of the 88 ballots cast, while Ticha Penicheiro was on 74 and Lieberman on 70 of the ballots. Rounding out the first team are: Inge Nissen ('80), Medina Dixon ('85), Tracy Claxton ('85), Clarisse Machanguana ('97), Mery Andrade ('99), Celeste Hill ('94), Kelly Lyons (`90), Natalie Diaz (`00), Lucienne Berthieu (02), Nyree Roberts ('98), Lisa Blais (85), and Adrienne Goodson('88).
Anne Donovan, a three-time Olympian and member of the Naismith, Women'sBasketball, and Virginia Sports Hall of Fames, was a multi-honored athlete for the Lady Monarchs. She remains the school's leader in career scoring (2,719 points),career rebounding (1976 boards), and career blocked shots (801). In addition, she is a three time All-American and 1983 Naismith National Player of the Year. Donovan wasalso an outstanding student earning CoSIDA Academic All-American honors twice andwas inducted into the COSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame in 1994.
Donovan served as an assistant coach at her alma mater before becoming headcoach at East Carolina University. Donovan then moved to the professional ranks becoming head coach with the Philadelphia Rage of the ABL before becoming head coach with the WNBA Indiana Fever and Charlotte Sting . She tookthe Sting to the WNBA finals in 2001, and captured the 2004 title with the Seattle Storm.
Ticha Penicheiro's playing style, one of a unique mixture of panache and skill, earned her many a fan in the Hampton Roads area as she led the Lady Monarchs to the 1997 NCAA Championship game. During her career at ODU, she collected 1,304 points, finished her career as ODU's all-time career steal leader with 591, and second all-time assist leader with 939.
The two-time Kodak All-American became ODU's second winner of the prestigious Lifetime/Wade Trophy was and the first international player to win this honor. A four-time All-CAA honoree, Penicheiro was named the League's Player of the Year twice as well as the Rookie of the Year. Ticha is a member of the WNBA's Sacramento Monarchs, which captured the 2005 WNBA championship. She is a four-time WNBA All-Star and two-time WNBA first team selection.
Known as "Lady Magic" during her days at ODU, Nancy Lieberman helped leadthe Lady Monarchs to an astounding 72-2 record during their back-to-back AIAWNational Championship seasons. One of college basketball's trailblazers and ambassadors, the three-time All-American remains ODU's career leader in assists (961).She is the only two-time winner of the Wade Trophy (1979 and 1980) and is also a recipient of the Broderick Cup.
For her efforts and dedication to the game, Lieberman was inducted into theNaismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1996 and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 1999. Lieberman has served as the head coach/general manager of the WNBA's Detroit Shock, played one year with the WNBA Phoenix Mercury and is currently an announcer for ESPN.
Inge Nissen from Denmark teamed with Lieberman to help the Lady Monarchscapture the AIAW National Championship in 1979 and 80. The 6-5 Nissen earned Kodak All-American honors as a senior. A four-year starter, Nissen ended her career with2,647 career points and 1,459 rebounds, second only to Anne Donovan.After her career at ODU, Nissen played in the Women's Pro Basketball league. She wasInducted into the ODU Sports Hall of Fame in 1985 and is currently the co-head coachof Florida International University with former Lady Monarch Cindy Russo.
Medina Dixon teamed with Tracy Claxton to lead the Lady Monarchs to the 1985NCAA National Championship with a win over Georgia. Dixon, a 6-3 forward fromCambridge, MA, averaged 17.4 points per game for her career and 8.7 rebounds. Sheearned Kodak All-American honors in 1985. Dixon competed for the USA Olympicteam in 1992 and played professionally in Europe.
Tracy Claxton, the MVP of the 1985 NCAA Championship game, still owns thenational tournament rebound mark of 20 boards in that title game. The 5-11 Claxtonled ODU in rebounding in 1984 (11.3) and 1985 (11.2) and scored in double figuresIn 30-of 34 games as a senior. She also earned two-time Sun Belt Conference firstteam honors. Claxton's jersey was retired at ODU earlier this season. She finishedher career with 1,999 career points and 1,434 career rebounds (12.2).
Clarisse Machanguana was one of the most prolific scorers for the Lady Monarchs. The 6-5 forward completed her career with 1,813 career points. Every yearshe stepped onto the hardwood for ODU, she led her teams in scoring and field goalpercentage. The 1997 Kodak All-American shot .624 from the floor during her careerand averaged 18.3 points per game.
The 1999 CAA Player of the Year, and CAA Defensive Player of the Year, MeryAndrade completed her career at ODU with 1622 career points which ranks her tenthall-time at ODU. The 6-1 forward from Lisbon, Portugal, led the Lady Monarchs in steals in 1999 with 3.7 per game. She played four seasons in the WNBA with Cleveland andCharlotte.
Celeste Hill was the 1991 Sun Belt Rookie of the Year. She followedas the CAA Player of the Year three successive seasons. The 5-11 native of Covington,KY is ODU's fifth all-time scorer with 2,112 career points. She is also the Lady Monarchs fifth all-time rebounder with 1,124 boards. Hill shot .574 for her career from the floor and .745 from the free throw line. She was inducted into the ODU Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.
Kelly Lyons is ODU's fourth all-time scorer (2,224) and sixth all-time rebounder (1008). The 6-2 center from Tipp City, Ohio led the nation in field goal percentage as a senior when she hit .694 from the floor. She also scored 42 points in a game against the University of Texas. The honorable mention All-American scored 30 or more points ten times in her career. She completed her career shooting .646 from the floor, best in ODU history.
Natalie Diaz, a two-time CAA Tournament MVP in 1999 and 2000 is ODU's eighth all-time leader in steals with 253. She earned CAA All-Tournament honors in 1999 and 2000. Diaz was also on the CAA's All-Defensive squad in 2000 and first team All-CAA that same year.
Lucienne Berthieu helped lead the Lady Monarchs to the 2002 Elite Eight. Shecompleted her career with 1,382 points. She led ODU in scoring in 1999, 2000 and 2002,and shot over 60 percent from the floor in 1999 and 2000. Berthieu earned CAA Playerof the Year honors in 1999 and 2002 as well as the league's Rookie of the Year in 1999.She played for Cleveland in the WNBA.
Nyree Roberts anchored the Lady Monarch inside game during the 1997 championship run. The 1998 CAA Player of the Year completed her career with 1854points and 986 career rebounds. She shot .615 from the floor during her career, including.652 as a junior.
Lisa Blais dished out a team best 158 assists for a 4.6 average for the 1985NCAA National Champion Lady Monarchs. She also averaged 7.0 points per gamethat year, and scored in double figures nine times, including 16 against Kentucky.
Adrienne Goodson earned Kodak All-District All American honors and was amember of the 1985 NCAA national championship team. As a senior in 1988, Goodsonwas named Sun Belt Conference Player of The Year and in the State of Virginia. Sheclosed out her career with 1,574 career points and 863 career rebounds. After graduation,Goodson played for the 1993 USA National Basketball team and was a two time ABL standout with the Richmond/Philadelphia Rage. She has also been a standout performerin the WNBA with Utah, Houston and San Antonio. Goodson was a 2002 WNBA All-Star selection.
Receiving honorable mention votes were: Regina Miller ('84), Wendy Larry ('77), Donna Doyle ('58), Jean Whitehurst ('56), Rhonda Rompola ('81), Shonda DeBerry ('96), Aubrey Eblin (99), Marie Christian ('87), Janet Karvonen ('82), Angela Cotman ('80), Deana van der Plas (94), Okiesha Howard ('03), Monique Coker (`04), Cindy Russo ('75), and Jan Trombly ('81).
The next All-Time team to be selected will be wrestling.