WORCESTER, Mass. – Holy Cross Director of Athletics Kit Hughes is honored to announce the retirement of five Holy Cross women's basketball jerseys at the College. This recognition coincides with the 50th anniversaries of Title IX and coeducation at Holy Cross, and will celebrate the tradition of excellence within the women's basketball program. The incredible accomplishments of these women will elevate them to the heights of fellow Crusader basketball greats already displayed within the Hart Center at the Luth Athletic Complex.
Kathleen Courtney M.D. '97, Janet Hourihan Brooks '86, Sherry Levin '84, Lauren Maney George '96 and Amy O'Brien Davagian '99 will all have their numbers hung in the rafters of the Hart Center Arena forever, in honor of their significant impact on and off the court as a part of the storied women's basketball program.
The five alumnae will be formally honored, and their jerseys officially displayed, during the Crusaders' Patriot League contest against Army West Point on January 28, 2023.
"The accomplishments of these Crusaders are truly remarkable and I am thrilled for the opportunity to honor their legacy and impact on Holy Cross women's basketball," said Hughes. "This special recognition is well-earned based on their significant accomplishments on the court and continued service to others throughout the community and at the College. The opportunity to honor their legacy at the same time we recognize the 50th anniversaries of Title IX and coeducation makes this all the more special. I look forward to celebrating with our entire Holy Cross community as we add these new names to the pantheon of Crusader basketball greats."
"This is such an exciting time for our program," said Holy Cross head coach Maureen Magarity. "These five women laid the foundation for the success and tradition that Holy Cross women's basketball has been built on. The impact that they made individually and collectively on and off the court aligns perfectly with the 50th anniversary of Title IX. We can't wait to hang their jerseys in the rafters to cement their lasting legacy in Hart."
#4 Lauren Maney George '96
Maney, a 1996 United Press honorable mention All-American, ranks fifth all-time at Holy Cross in points scored (1,721), scoring average (14.3) and field goals made (704). A three-time Patriot League champion (1993, 1995, 1996), she was named the Patriot League Player of the Year twice (1995, 1996) and the Patriot League Tournament MVP once (1995). In the classroom, Maney earned College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA) Academic All-District honors in 1994 and 1995 while being named the 1996 Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year. A member of the Patriot League All-Decade Team for the 1990s and Patriot League 25th Anniversary Team, Maney was the Crusader of the Year in 1996 and was inducted into the Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 2002.
"I am deeply honored to have my jersey retired in the Hart Center," she said. "I have such fond memories and will forever cherish my playing days competing alongside my teammates and coaches. I am both proud and humbled to hold such a prestigious place in Holy Cross women's basketball history."
#22 Amy O'Brien Davagian '99
O'Brien, a three-time conference champion and a 1998 Associated Press honorable mention All-American, ranks second on Holy Cross' all-time scoring list (2,075). The 1999 New England Player of the Year and a two-time Patriot League Player of the Year (1998, 1999), she also stands third in program history in scoring average (17.4), third in field goals made (782), third in free throws made (465), fourth in rebounds (963) and fifth in field goal percentage (.531). O'Brien also holds the program record for most points scored in a game with 38 at Connecticut on November 14, 1997. In the classroom, she was a two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American (1998, 1999) as well as a two-time Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year (1998, 1999). The 1998 Patriot League Tournament MVP, O'Brien was selected to the Patriot League All-Decade Team for the 1990s and Patriot League 25th Anniversary Team. She was named the Crusader of the Year in 1999 and inducted into the Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 2005.
"During my four years at Holy Cross, I was extremely fortunate to play for Bill Gibbons and Kelly Greenberg, whose dedication, nurturing and profound knowledge of the game allowed me and my teammates to flourish," she said. "Basketball is a team sport and nothing is ever accomplished alone. With that said, I am so grateful to my teammates for the experiences that we shared together both on and off the court, and for their continued friendship and support. I am so proud to be a part of the Holy Cross women's basketball family. Congratulations to the other women's basketball players having their numbers retired. I am humbled to be in their company and truly blown away by this honor. I would like to thank Kit Hughes and Holy Cross for such a thoughtful gesture."
#24 Sherry Levin '84
Levin, the program's all-time leader in points (2,253), scoring average (21.8) and field goals made (842), started and played in 103 games for the Crusaders. A four-time first team Jewish All-American, she led Holy Cross to an EAIAW championship in 1983 and the MAAC regular season title in 1984. Academically, she was a three-time CoSIDA Academic All-American and the 1984 MAAC scholar-athlete of the year. In 1984, Levin was awarded the Holy Cross Varsity Club's John A. Meegan Athletic Achievement award. Levin was honored before the Holy Cross' game against UMass on November 19, 2021, when the players' lounge adjacent to the women's locker room was dedicated to her. Levin was the first women's basketball player to be inducted into the Holy Cross Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 1989, and on April 23, 2023, Levin will be enshrined into the Jewish Sports Heritage Association (JSHA) Hall of Fame.
"I am extremely honored that Holy Cross is retiring my jersey," she said. "It's quite humbling to be mentioned in the same breath as the legends I always looked up to as a student-athlete. I am especially thrilled to have my number alongside that of my dear coach, Togo Palazzi. I know he would be proud. My career was filled with so many incredible memories on the court that this is a culmination of a dream come true. A heartfelt thank you to the athletic department for establishing this new initiative recognizing the tradition of excellence and achievements of women's basketball at Holy Cross. I am filled with such gratitude and share this honor with my teammates, coaches, and all who have supported us along the way. I am especially excited to have the women's basketball players honored while Title IX celebrates its 50th year of existence. Setting the foundation for future players to look up and see our jerseys and feel like anything is possible is meaningful."
#33 Kathleen Courtney M.D. '97
Courtney still ranks as Holy Cross' all-time leader in blocked shots (309), while standing third in rebounds (1,011), third in field goal percentage (.561) and 10th in points scored (1,539). A three-time All-Patriot League nominee, she was named the conference's Player of the Year in 1997 and Rookie of the Year in 1994. Courtney led the Crusaders to a pair of Patriot League titles (1995, 1996) while recording two of only three triple-doubles in program history. She also earned Academic All-America accolades and was the Patriot League's Scholar-Athlete of the Year as a senior. A member of the Patriot League All-Decade Team for the 1990s and Patriot League 25th Anniversary Team, Courtney was the Crusader of the Year in 1997 and was inducted into the Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 2004.
"I am completely and utterly humbled by this honor," she said. "I am not sure how I got so lucky to be a part of this Holy Cross basketball family, but I am so glad that Coach Gibbons took a chance on me back in 1993. The lessons that I have learned and the memories that I made at Holy Cross are invaluable to me as I have become a mom, pursued my career as a pediatrician and started coaching my own children. Coach always told us that we wouldn't remember the number of wins and losses, and while I look back upon our achievements fondly, I am more proud of the incredible friendships I have made and continue to have 25 years later. We may not have been the fastest, the biggest or the strongest, but we won many games because of our incredible chemistry and dedication to team above all. I will never take these intangibles for granted and I am so thankful for my coaches who taught us this, day in and day out. I am never more proud than when I tell someone I played basketball at Holy Cross."
#45 Janet Hourihan Brooks '86
Hourihan competed on Crusader teams which compiled an overall record of 81-27, including an EAIAW championship, a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championship and a 1985 bid to the NCAA Tournament. Hourihan still ranks second all-time at Holy Cross in rebounds (1,178) and fourth in points scored (1,909), and was the first player in program history to record over 1,000 points and 1,000 rebounds. A three-time first team All-MAAC selection, Hourihan was named both the New England Player of the Year and the MAAC Player of the Year in 1985. She was also the Most Valuable Player of the 1985 MAAC Tournament, while leading Holy Cross to the title to secure its first NCAA Tournament berth. She was a two-time recipient of the Holy Cross Varsity Club's John A. Meegan Athletic Achievement award in 1985 and 1986. Hourihan was inducted into the Varsity Club Hall of Fame in 1991.
Hourihan Brooks passed away on Sept. 19 after a brave battle with cancer.
"I'm completely honored," she said on a phone call with Kit Hughes on Sept. 13. "I never thought this day would come, so that's very exciting. Thank you so much for recognizing the women's program."
A wake for Hourihan Brooks will be held on Friday, Sept. 23 from 5 to 8 p.m., with an 11:30 a.m. funeral mass on Saturday, Sept. 24.
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