May 9, 2003
COLLEGE PARK, Md. -
Former Maryland standout Tara Heiss (1975-78) is one of six new inductees to the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tenn. The ceremony will take place this weekend, May 9-10, and features various events to celebrate the storied careers of the six newest members of the Hall.
"What kind of honor is induction into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame? Women's basketball is now in its 111th year of existence and this class will bring the number of inductees to only 73. That is an incredible tribute to those special people who have influenced the game and its future forever," said Gloria Ray, President/CEO of the Knoxville Tourism & Sports Corporation and the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. "This class will join the greats of the game such as Nancy Lieberman, Cheryl Miller and Pat Head-Summitt in the Hall of Fame."
The smallest class of inductees since the Hall's opening in 1999, Heiss led the Terps to the 1978 conference tournament championship. In the first ACC title game ever, she was named MVP of the inaugural tournament. Her No. 44 jersey is one of only three women's jerseys honored at Maryland. She is still ranked second in career assists with 504 despite only playing three years. A relative fixture at the point guard position for the USA basketball teams in 1979 and 1980, she was a member of the 1980 Olympic team that boycotted the Moscow Olympic Games.
Heiss also competed on USA teams in the R. William Jones Cup, World Championships, Pan American Games, and World University Games in 1979, garnering three gold medals and one silver medal. She was also selected as the Most Popular Player at the 1979 World Championships.
The official induction gala takes places Saturday evening, May 10, at the Tennessee Theatre at 8 p.m.
2003 Women's Basketball Hall Of Fame Inductees
Leon Barmore
Tara Heiss
Claude Hutcherson
Patsy Neal
Doris Rogers
Marsha Sharp
