Feb. 26, 2010

PHILADELPHIA - Saint Joseph's women basketball program will celebrate the 25th anniversary of it first NCAA Tournament team this Sunday during the Hawks' regular-season finale against Duquesne. The 1984-85 Saint Joseph's women's basketball team will be recognized for its monumental season with a pregame gathering and halftime ceremony.

Led by stalwarts Trish Brown, Teresa Carmichael, Jessi Dunne, Terri Mohr and Debbie Black among others, Saint Joseph's captured three in-season tournament crowns and earned its first outright Philadelphia Big 5 title during the regular season. The Hawks would go on to claim a share of the Atlantic 10 regular-season title as well, recording a then-record 25 victories.

"We are honored to bring back this special team for what they accomplished on the court and in the classroom. They set a high standard for all subsequent teams and greatly contributed to the tradition of Hawk women's basketball," said Saint Joseph's Associate Vice President/Director of Athletics Don DiJulia.

In his seventh season as head coach, Jim Foster helped Saint Joseph's to spots in both the USA Today and AP Poll throughout the year, and a matchup with North Carolina State in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament in Raleigh, North Carolina. Despite losing to the Wolf Pack, 67-63, the Hawks began a run of six-straight NCAA appearances. As a result of the team's success, Foster was named Coach of the Year by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.

"In recognition of Jim Foster's contribution over his long tenure at Saint Joseph's, the University is pleased and honored to name the head coach's office in the new Ramsay Basketball Center in his honor," said DiJulia.

Scheduled to be at Sunday game are Foster, Brown, Carmichael, Dunne, Mohr, Debbie Black, Barbara Black, Ellen Clark, Janet Fonda, Stephanie Hughes, Jill Rooney and Alison Witterholt.