Basketball Hall of Fame Announces Women's Finalists for Election.

Sports Editors and Basketball Writers & Columnists

SPRINGFIELD, Mass.--(BW SportsWire)--April 23, 2002

Los Angeles to Host Class of 2002 Announcement on June 5 to name the first group to be enshrined into the new $103 million Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame complex on September 27

Three of the greatest coaches in women's basketball history who collectively have logged over 60 years in the profession -- Wayland Baptist coach Harley Redin, Immaculata's Cathy Rush and North Carolina State's Kay Yow, were named today by the Women's Screening Committee as finalists for enshrinement into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

REDIN, RUSH AND YOW were selected from a dozen women's candidates and are the third of four groups selected for consideration by the Honors Committee for election into the Class of 2002. On Wednesday, the Hall of Fame will release the names of finalists selected by the North American Screening Committee. Finalists announced earlier include veterans Forrest Anderson, Grady Lewis and Earl Lloyd; and international finalists Pedro Ferrandiz, Dino Meneghin and the late Drazen Petrovic. Redin, Rush and Yow have previously been finalists.

The Basketball Hall of Fame Class of 2002 will be announced on June 5, 2002 at the Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles, CA. It will be the first opportunity to learn the identities of the new electees. "By announcing this class in Los Angeles, we are making a statement that the Basketball Hall of Fame is more than a building located in Springfield, Mass., the birthplace of basketball, but an organization that represents the best of the game from coast to coast," said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. Enshrinement for the Class is scheduled for September 27, the day before the Basketball Hall of Fame opens a new $103 million Hall of Fame and retail complex.

Harley Redin spent 25 years coaching the men's and women's teams at Wayland Baptist. In 18 years as women's coach, Redin's teams posted a 431-66 record, including six AAU National Championships, two undefeated seasons, a 76-game winning streak and 17 top-five AAU finishes.

Cathy Rush is widely acknowledged for her role in bringing national attention to women's sports. In seven seasons coaching at Immaculata College, Rush compiled a 149-15 record, including three consecutive AIAW national championships and six consecutive AIAW Final Fours. Immaculata was the first women's college team to appear on national television (vs. University of Maryland in 1975) and play outside the United States (vs. Australia in 1974).

Kay Yow has 625 career victories at Elon College and North Carolina State, fifth best in women's basketball history. Yow, who led the Wolfpack to the 1998 Final Four, has led NC State into the NCAA Tournament 15 times and is the only women's coach to win a Gold Medal at both the Olympics (1988) and World Championships (1996).

A complete version of this release is available at the Basketball Hall of Fame website, www.hoophall.com