Class of six to join Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

Updated: July 16, 2007, 7:52 AM ET

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The Women's Basketball Hall of Fame announced its 2008 inductees at halftime of the WNBA All-Star Game.

Virginia coach Debby Ryan, who has won over 650 games in her 30 years as the Cavaliers coach, headlines the class. She is joined by Central Arizona College coach Lin Laursen, official Patty Broderick, former Tennessee player Jill Rankin Schneider, former Penn State player Suzie McConnell-Serio, and Michele Timms.

Laursen has been the head coach for 33 years and won 937 games, including three NJCAA national championships. Broderick has officiated for over 30 years and is currently a coordinator of women's basketball officials. Rankin-Schneider played at Wayland Baptist College before heading to Tennessee in 1979. She was a member of the 1980 Olympic team that was unable to play because of the boycott.

McConnell-Serio was a stellar point guard for Penn State, setting NCAA records for career assists and assists in a season. She won two Olympic medals and was the first All-American in Penn State history.

Timms was the first Australian woman to play professionally overseas. She played for the Phoenix Mercury from 1997-2001 and was the second WNBA player ever to have her jersey retired.

The six individuals in the Class of 2008 will be formally inducted as members of the Hall of Fame during a weekend of induction festivities to be held Friday and Saturday, June 13-14, 2008, in Knoxville, Tenn.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

2008 INDUCTION: June 14, 2008

Join us as we celebrate six phenomenal women who helped shape the game and who continue to embrace women’s basketball today. The achievements of Patty Broderick, Lin L. Laursen, Debbie Ryan, Jill Rankin Schneider, Suzie McConnell-Serio and Michele Timms will be highlighted as they receive the coveted Eastman Award during Saturday’s magical black-tie ceremony at the Bijou Theatre.

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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME

10^th ANNIVERSARY CLASS

JILL RANKIN SCHNEIDER

·        One of the few ever to be named as one of the nations top 10 players at two different universities: Kodak All-American at Wayland Baptist College (1978-79) and at the University of Tennessee (1979-80)

·        Scored 1000 points in a single season at Wayland (1978-79)

·        Co-captain of the 1980 Olympic Team; gold medallist in Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Bulgaria

·        Currently a girls’ basketball coach at Monterey High in Lubbock Texas

·        Served as student assistant at Tennessee for one year; worked as assistant coach at Texas for five years (including the 1986 undefeated season); coached 12 years at Borger High School in Texas

·        Named MVP of Wayland in 1979, Tennessee in 1980 and voted MVP of the Southeastern Conference Tournament in 1980

·        1980 CoSIDA Academic All-American of the Year

·        Named an SEC Women’s Basketball “Former Great” honoree in 2004

·        Was inducted into the Panhandle Sports Hall of Fame in 1994 and the Texas High School Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.