Oct. 21, 2003
Knoxville, Tenn. -
Stony Brook head women's basketball coach Trish Roberts was one of six inductees into the Lady Volunteer Hall of Fame in 2003. Roberts, a 2000 inductee into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, earned KODAK All-American honors in 1977 and was a member of the 1976 U.S. Olympic team that captured the silver medal.
The enshrinement ceremony took place on Friday, September 26, followed by a full day of activities on Saturday afternoon. The Hall of Famers signed autographs at the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame and were honored during the Tennessee/South Carolina football game.
Roberts transferred to Tennessee after one season at North Georgia State College and two at Emporia State College (Kansas). In just one season, she rewrote the Lady Vol record book while becoming the program's first KODAK All-American. Roberts still holds school records for scoring (29.9 ppg) and rebounding average (14.2 rpg) in a career, points (987), scoring average (29.9 ppg), field goals (428), rebounds (467) and rebounding average (14.2 rpg) in a season, and points (51), field goals (24), field goal attempts (31) and rebounds (24) in a game. Roberts, who led her team in scoring and rebounding in her only season, was a member of the 1976-77 squad that posted a 28-5 record and finished third in the AIWA National Championships.
In 1976, Roberts earned a spot on the U.S. National team and helped lead the squad to the silver medal at the Olympic Games in Montreal after averaging 12.0 points per game. While on that team she played with Pat Summitt, who Roberts went to play under at Tennessee the following season. Roberts went on to represent the U.S. at the 1978 World University Games and served as captain of the 1979 U.S. National Team.
A 1979 graduate of Tennessee with a B.S. in education, Roberts went on to a successful professional career, playing three seasons in the Women's Basketball League (1978-82) for the Minnesota Fillies and the St. Louis Streak.
Roberts was honored for her outstanding career in 2000 with an induction into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame. She was also enshrined into the Emporia State College Hall of Fame (1994) and the Women in Sports and Education Hall of Fame (1996).
As a coach, Roberts has compiled a record of 161-175 over 12 seasons, including a 59-55 mark in her four seasons at Stony Brook.
Other inductees included Howard Aldmon (administrator), Cindy Brogdon (basketball), April Chapple (volleyball), Elizabeth Brown Jarvis (swimming) and Cathy Rattray (track and field). Athletes are eligible for inclusion 10 years after graduation, while administrators may be admitted five years following their last service to Tennessee.
