They handily defeated their first two opponents, Indiana State (59-48) and Western Washington (66-53,) by more than ten points. At the time Rush was disappointed by the school administration's decision to not offer scholarships, but as she says, it was just the arrogance of her youth. Led by three-time All-America Theresa Shank and two-time All-America Marianne Crawford, the Macs featured a balanced attack that also featured players like Mary Scharff, Rene Muth, and Judy Marra. Dr. Frank Breen and his wife, Judith, traveled with the Mighty Macs and filmed the first womens game ever played at Madison Square Garden, a 65 61 victory for the Macs over Queens College played before 12,000 fans. Rush and the Mighty Macs also captured the AIAW championship in 1974, making three in a row. The AIAW tournament was preceded by a tournament sponsored by the Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (CIAW), which was held from 1969 to 1971.[1]. Discover more about the championship Mighty Macs by visiting https://www.immaculata.edu/about/history/championship-mighty-macs/. The host site was Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois. California residents do not sell my data request. Like The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia on Facebook, Follow The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia on Instagram, Like The Encyclopedia of Greater Philadelphia on Facebook, Philadelphia, the Place that Loves You Back, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, The Mighty Macs (Trailer via Youtube, April 3, 2014), Mighty Macs Naismith Hall of Fame/ Macs Memories (Immaculata.edu), Cathy Rush gets call from the Hall archived story (Gomightymacs.com). (Author information current at time of publication.). To think that 11 young women and their equally young coach raised the profile and changed the perception of womens sports is amazing. 1972-bracket 1972 Tournament AIAW National Tournament Consolation Winner: Queens College Consolation Runner-up: California State-Long Beach 16 teams California State-Fullerton California State-Long Beach* Illinois State Immaculata Indiana (or Indiana State?) During March 14-20, the entire campus community will celebrate the Mighty Macs with various events and displays depicting the teams achievements. First National Women's Collegiate Basketball Championship (March 19, 1972) - AIAW First to win three consecutive national titles (AIAW: 1972, 1973, 1974); placed 2nd in 1975 and 1976 and 4th in 1977 First women's team, with the University of Maryland, to appear on national TV (January of 1975) "We still have such great support of the women's basketball program from the sisters," Canterino said. To think that 11 young women and their equally young coach raised the profile and changed the perception of womens sports is amazing. In 1972, the Immaculata Women's Basketball program faced financial struggles that almost kept the team from competing in the AIAW national tournament in Illinois. The 1972 Immaculata women's basketball team. By Randall S. Shantz (Originally published in 1997). MapIMMACULATA UNIVERSITY To honor the 50th anniversary of that first championship, Immaculata is recognizing members of all three national championship teams during a campus celebration on Friday, March 18 from 12-3 PM. We didn't have any of that.". Chestnut Hill College. Stay tuned for live updates to follow. Several players continued their love of the game by becoming high-profile professional and collegiate coaches making their mark from the sidelines. Jan 25 (Thu) W, 72-24. However, the Mighty Macs continued to be remembered. Boxscore Women's Basketball at Trine University March 4, 2022 7:00 P.M. Women's Basketball // W 70 - 57. In the championship game against old nemesis West Chester (which had sent its third team to play the Macs during the regular season), Immaculata rose to the occasion and avenged the 32-point regional loss a week earlier with a 52-48 victory. The following season the Mighty Macs went undefeated. Overall, she guided the Mighty Macs to 6 consecutive final four appearances in her seven seasons with the college, attaining a 149-15 record. Open Tuesday - Sunday 10am - 4pm, Closed Monday, The Basketball Hall of Fame All-America Team, The Mannie Jackson - Basketball Human Spirit Award(s), AIAW National Championships (1972, 1973, 1974), Games won in three seasons, losing only two times, The Morgan Wootten Lifetime Achievement Award, The John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award, Glenn Roberts and The Genesis of The Jump Shot, Wayland Baptist Flying Queens of 1948-1982, Basketball Hall of Fame Golf Classic at Monarch Beach Golf Links Hosted by Jerry West, MGM Springfield Hall of Fame Golf Classic, 2016 Karl Malone Award Watch List Narrowed to Ten Finalists, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Names Steiner Sports as Licensing Agent, Schedule and Match-Ups Announced for Boca Raton Beach Classic. From 1972 to 1977, the Rush-led Macs appeared in six straight AIAW Final Fours. Basketball brought the Immaculata community together, and Immaculatas success showcased the high quality of basketball played by Philadelphias Catholic schools. The underdog team, led by Hall of Fame coach Cathy Rush, went on to win national championships in 1973 and 1974, a story retold in the 2011 film The Mighty Macs. Those schools were going to attract the better players. Their Cinderella story was made into a Hollywood movie, The Mighty Macs. Several players continued their love of the game by becoming high-profile professional and collegiate coachesmaking their mark from the sidelines. They won their first three games, then defeated archrival West Chester for the national championships. The Mighty Macs finished the season 24-1. Pre-NCAA statistics, based on AIAW Archives, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries.[8]. In the early 1970s, the Mighty Macs of Immaculata College ushered in the modern era of womens athletics. Other players became doctors, teachers, philanthropists, or businesswomen. Even at less than full strength, Immaculata won the title, upsetting West Chester -- which had beaten the Mighty Macs by 32 points a week earlier. The legendary Mighty Macs demonstrated a dominance rarely seen in any sport, either womens or mens, becoming true heroes of intercollegiate athletics. Each game was close, as Immaculata won two of its first three games by a three-point margin and defeated Indiana University by a single basket. The 1973 team went undefeated, beating Queens College in the finals, and the 1974 team defeated Mississippi State College for Women in the finals. Sister Mary of Lourdes (1915-2005), the college president, persuaded each of the trustees to pay for plane fare for one player. The most comprehensive, authoritative reference source ever created for the Philadelphia region. (). The Mighty Macs, as a 15th-seed, upset three teams to reach the finals in Illinois. After drawing over 4,000 fans for a Monday afternoon game, she thought about charging admission in order to raise money for the program. Check back soon! It didn't even have a home court to practice on after the gym burned down before Rush's first year in 1971. Rush is widely acknowledged for shining the national spotlight on women's basketball and playing a crucial . The Mighty Macs and their legendary coach, Cathy Rush, will celebrate this milestone with members of the campus community, the current womens basketball team and Tim Chambers, director of The Mighty Macs movie. Westcott, Rich. To honor the 50th anniversary of that first championship, Immaculata is recognizing members of all three national championship teams during a campus celebration on Friday, March 18 from 12-3 PM. The adventures of the first championship team were loosely portrayed in the award-winning feature film The Mighty Macs (2009). The 1972 AIAW women's basketball tournament was held on March 16-19, 1972. The Immaculata Mighty Macs played a huge part in the evolution of womens sports since the 1970s. She won an eye-popping 91 percent (149-15) of her games over her tenure at Immaculata, including coaching the first undefeated national champion in 1973. The Immaculata Mighty Macs played a huge part in the evolution of womens sports since the 1970s. The Mighty Macs winning history has also reached the silver screen. HARRISBURG - The legendary Might Macs women's basketball team at Immaculata University was honored in the state Capitol on Monday, a week shy of the 40th anniversary of their historic national championship victory. The Mighty Macs continued their dominance, reaching the Final Four in . The Mighty Macs honor role includes Head Coach Cathy Rush and players Janet Ruch Boltz, Denise Conway Crawford, Janet Young Eline, Theresa Shank Grentz, Nancy Johnston, Barbara Deuble Kelly, Tina Krah, Patricia Mulhern Loughran, Judy Marra Martelli, Maureen Mooney, Sue Forsyth OGrady, Patricia Opila, Rene Muth Portland, Betty Ann Hoffman Quinn, Mary Scharff, Marianne Crawford Stanley, Maureen Stuhlman and Marie Liguori Williams. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User . To honor the 50th anniversary of the first victory, Immaculata is recognizing members of all three national championship teams during a campus celebration on Friday, March 18, from 12 to 3 p.m. The team won two additional titles in 1973 and 1974. I was really happy being a mom.". On Sunday, March 19, 1972, 11 remarkable young women and their coach from immaculata college achieved the impossible, winning the first-ever national womens college basketball championship, and against all odds, capturing the title again in 1973 and 1974. Even then, only eight of the 11 players could go, flying standby. While they haven't made the national tournament since the glory years, the Mighty Macs were on the verge last season of making the Division III NCAAs. "They elevated women's sports to a whole new level.". For more information about the 50th anniversary event or to interview any of the Mighty Mac players, email lszyjka@immaculata.edu. On Sunday, March 19, 1972, Immaculata University's women's basketball team etched its name into sports history as the first women's college basketball national champions. In the finals, the Mighty Macs had another close game with West Chester University, winning 52-48. The 1972 AIAW women's basketball tournament was held on March 1619, 1972. For more information about the 50th-anniversary event, e-mail lszyjka@immaculata.edu. They lost in the finals of the Colonial States Athletic Conference tournament. The Immaculata College womens basketball teams of the early 1970s, known as the Mighty Macs, won the first three national tournaments of the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) in 1972, 1973, and 1974. Even then, only eight of the 11 players could go, flying standby. The story of the precocious Macs (not yet anointed with the mighty designation that would soon become part of their nickname forever) and their implausible run to the first of three consecutive national championships needs not be retold here in detail because, as monstrous as that title was, it became but a small part of the schools bequest to womens college basketball. Another Mighty Macs championship-winning player, Marianne Crawford Stanley, also went on to coach NCAA womens basketball and professional basketball for the Womens National Basketball Association. For more information about the 50th-anniversary event, e-mail lszyjka@immaculata.edu. Immaculata gained acclaim with its 52-48 victory over West Chester State in the first National Women's Invitation Tournament held in Normal, Ill., on March 19, 1972. I was a senior at Immaculata in 1972 and winning the championship that year is something I will never forget. 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