50 YEARS SINCE TITLE IX BECAME THE LAW OF THE LAND
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Title IX of the Education Amendments was passed into law on June 23, 1972, to prohibit sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity), discrimination in any education program or activity receiving federal financial assistance. When Title IX was implemented 50 years ago, leveling the playing field for women's sports was the ultimate goal, especially in college athletics.
In recognition of the 50-year anniversary of Title IX, the following list of impactful women athletes from all sports at Jackson State University is listed below. In putting this list together, assistance was received from former and current women's coaches, former and present athletic administrators and former women's student-athletes. Over the past 50 years there have been hundreds of female athletes who have made a tremendous impact on JSU athletics. The list below reflects some of them.
Special thanks to Sam Jefferson Jr. (former Jackson State Sports Information Director, JSU SHOF, SWAC HOF), Dr. Walter Reed (former JSU athlete and Director of Athletics), Bertha Hardy (former JSU basketball player and professional basketball player), Earl Thomas (former record-setting JSU track star) and past and present coaches of women's sports at Jackson State University.
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Paula Arcarons, Tennis
Lauren Aikens, Softball
- 2012-14
- SS/OF
- 150 career hits
- .340 career average
Thelma McLaurin Anderson, Track and Field
- 1972-77
- Sprinter
- JSU SHOF
- The first female athlete to receive a track scholarship
- Ran 440, 220 and 880 yd dash
- Set Coliseum indoor record in 440 yd dash in 1972
Shasta Averyhardt, Golf
- 2004-08
- Won four individual and team championships at JSU
- First African American golfer on the LPGA tour since 2001
- One of just eight Black women to ever compete on the LPGA tour
- JSU SHOF
Diane Nur Bakar, Bowling
- Compiled the highest pin average of any bowler on the team during her two years competing
- Led JSU to first SWAC bowling championship
- Maintained the highest academic average on the bowling team
Evelyn Bender, Basketball
- 1977-79
- Guard
- All SWAC
- NAWS champion
- Deadly long-range shooter
- Played professional basketball
- Named to 2015 JSU All Legends Basketball Team
Tammy Blackwell, Volleyball
- 1978-81
- First volleyball player at JSU to receive a full scholarship
- First JSU volleyball player to be inducted into the JSU SHOF
- Her high school jersey was retired
Ashley Blakley, Bowling
- Pillar of women bowling team in the program's early years
- Set the bar high as the most accomplished and most consistent bowler
Vivian Brown, Track and Field
- 1982-86
- Sprinter
- B.S. in Meteorology
- Brown was with The Weather Channel from 1986 to 2015
Salina Chirchir, Track and Field
- Native of Kenya
- Competed at JSU in 1980s
- Competed for Kenya in the 1984 summer Olympics
- Middle distance runner
Latoya Clark, Volleyball
- 2008-12
- JSU all-time assist leader
- All SWAC
- Helped lead JSU to first SWAC championship
- Named to SWAC all-tournament team
Stephanie Dorsey, Basketball
- Center
- 1979-81
- Scored 1,284 points
- NAWS champion
- National Association of Women Sports (NAWS) Player of the Year
- All SWAC
- Led the team in scoring (611, 637) and rebounding (439, 413) in 1979-80 and 1980-81
- Ranked second (87) and third (59) on the season blocked shot list in1980-81 and 1979-80
- Named to 2015 JSU All Legends Basketball Team
Carena Easley, Basketball
- G
- 2004-08
- Team Captain in 2008
- 1,000-point club
- Named to 2015 JSU All Legends Basketball Team
Christina Edwards, Volleyball
- 2011-13
- Led NCAA in service aces in 2012
- First team All SWAC
- Named SWAC Newcomer of the Year in 2011
- Helped lead JSU to back-to-back SWAC championships
Taylor Emerson, Soccer
- 2011-14
- SWAC Tournament MVP
- Led program to second SWAC Championship
Brenda Finch Holloway, Track and Field
- Premier Sprinter
- 1975-79
- Member of JSU Sprint Medley Relay team that set a world record (4:11.5) at the Mason Dixon Games in Louisville, KY
- First female to represent JSU at the 1976 Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon in the 100m and 200m.
- Ranked 7th in the U.S. in the 100m.
- All SWAC, SWAC champion, NAIA champion and All American
- Set records in the 100 and 200 meters for Lady Tigers
- JSU SHOF, 2003
Jillian Forde, Track and Field
- Sprinter
- 1980s
- Native of Trinidad
- Olympic events:Â 100 meters and 4x100 meter relay
Eva Freeman Anderson, Basketball
- 1979-82
- SWAC champion
- NAWS champion
- Sister of Gloria Freeman
- Guard
- 1979-82
- Named to 2015 JSU All Legends Basketball Team
Gloria Freeman, Basketball
- Sister of Eva Freeman
- Point Guard
- 1979-82
- Set Lady Tigers season records in assists (319, 1980-81) and steals (132, 1980-81)
- JSU SHOF
- JSU's all-time assist (658) leader when she graduated
- Named to 2015 JSU All Legends Basketball Team
Lafon Fuller, Basketball
- Sister of Mary Fuller
- Guard
- Best Defensive Player (1976 and 1978)
- SWAC champion
- JSU SHOF
- Named to 2015 JSU All Legends Basketball Team
Mary Fuller Scott, Basketball
- Sister of Lafon Fuller
- Guard
- 1976-80
- Best Offensive Player (1978)
- 1000-point club
- MAIAW champion
- Third leading scorer (1,923 points) in JSU history when she graduated
- Played professionally in WBL
- JSU SHOF
- Named to 2015 JSU ALL Legends Basketball Team
Latisha Gibbs, Basketball
- Guard
- 1994-98
- Team MVP
- Ranked in top five in steals (153, 1994-95) in a season when she graduated
- Named to 2015 JSU All Legends Basketball Team
Mosella Gibson, Track and Field
- Sprinter
- 1973-77
- Competed in the 100 dash,220 dash and 440 yd. dash
- One of first female track athletes to get a scholarship to JSU
Bertha Hardy Smith, Basketball
- Forward/Center
- 1975-79
- JSU all-time leading scorer (2,030 points, prior to three-point field goal) when she graduated
- Named team MVP two years 1975 and 1979)
- Named All-America four years
- NAWS champ (1978 and 1979)
- NAWS MVP (1979)
- Finalist for the Wade Trophy
- Played professionally in WBL—first female basketball player drafted in professional ranks
- Named All Pro with New Orleans Pride in 1979
- Honor student
- JSU SHOF
- SWAC Hall of Fame
- Named to 2015 JSU All Legends Basketball Team
Tameka Hill Brown, Basketball
- C/F
- 1994-98
- 1,000-point club
- All SWAC
- Best Offensive Player
- Played one year professionally in Sweden
- Named to 2015 JSU All Legends Basketball Team
Ameshya Williams-Holliday, Basketball
- F/C
- 2018-22
- SWAC Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in 2022
- Three-time First-Team All-SWAC
- Three-time SWAC Defensive Player of the Year
- Helped lead team to three straight SWAC regular season titles and two straight SWAC tournament titles
- Two-time BOXTOTOW HBCU National Player of the Year (2021-2022)
- Helped lead the Lady Tigers to a 21-game win streak in 2022
- Drafted in WNBA (3rd round, pick 25) in 2022
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Capri Howard,
Bowling
Esther Hope, Track and Field
- 1978-82
- Sprinter
- 1981 NAIA national indoor 55-meters dash (6.99) champion
- Competed in the 100 meters, 200 meters and 4x100 meters relay
- Competed in the women's 4x100 meters relay at the 1984 Summer Olympics for Trinidad and Tobago
Michelle Houston, Basketball
- G
- 1987-91
- Led Lady Tigers to 1989-90 SWAC Tournament Championship
- 1,000-point club
- All SWAC Tournament Team (1990)
- All SWAC
- Team MVP
- JSU SHOF
- Named to 2015 JSU All Legends Basketball Team
Wonevia Hughes, Track and Field
- Sprinter
- 1976-80
- All-America
- Member of Sprint Medley Relay team that set a world's record (4:11.5) in the 1977 Mason Dixon Games in Louisville, Kentucky
Carmen Thomas-Jackson, Track and Field
- Sprinter
- 1975-79
- All-America
- Member of Sprint Medley Relay team that set a world's record (4:11.5) in the 1977 Mason Dixon Games in Louisville, Kentucky
Radious Jacobs, Track and Field
- 800 meters
- 1977-81
- SWAC 800 meters champion
- Member of Sprint Medley Relay team that set a world's record (4:11.5) in the 1977 Mason Dixon Games in Louisville, Kentucky
Breea Jamerson, Softball
- 2011-14
- P/OF
- 44 wins, 5 saves as pitcher
Patricia Jones, Basketball
- C/F
- 1974-78 (?)
- Fierce competitor and rebounder
- All SWAC
- 1,000-point club
- Ranked among Lady Tigers top five season scorers when she graduated
- JSU SHOF
- Named to 2015 JSU All Legends Basketball Team
Anna Eatmon-Johnson, Basketball
- 1984-86
- G
- Led Lady Tigers in scoring the two years she played
- Two-time All SWAC
- 1,000-point club
- JSU SHOF
- Named to 2015 JSU All Legends Basketball Team
Genia Johnson, Basketball
- G/F
- 1999-03
- Led team in three-point field goals made (96, 2002-03 and 79, 2001-02)
- Ranked among team leaders in blocked shots in 2001-02, 41
- Named to 2015 JSU All Legends Basketball Team
Esther Kiplagat, Track and Field
- Long distance runner
- 1986-89
- A native of Kenya
- Competed in women's 3,000 in 1992 Summer Olympics
Amy Lara, Softball
- 2013-15
- 3B
- 80 hits in two seasons
Brittany Larkins, Volleyball
- 2007-10
- Led team in hitting
- SWAC Most Valuable Player (2009)
- First team All SWAC (2009)
- SWAC All-Tournament team
Kim Linson, Basketball
- C/F
- 1991-95
- Scored over 1,000 points and pulled down over 500 rebounds in her career
- Four-year starter at JSU
- Named to JSU 2015 All Legends Basketball Team
Pamela McDonald Felder, Basketball
- F
- 1977-81
- All SWAC
- JSU SHOF
- High school education administrator
- Named to 2015 JSU All Legends Basketball Team
Tayler Nave, Softball
Victoria Nelson, Softball
- 2B
- 2013-16
- 176 career hits, .318 career average
Kayla Owens, Softball
- P
- 2017-21
- 25 career wins, 86 career hits
Erica Payton, Golf
- 2010-13
- Four-year All SWAC performer
- Helped JSU win four consecutive SWAC Titles
- College Administrator
Geneva Pla, Volleyball
- 1975-79
- Track and Field/volleyball
- Shot put SWAC champion
- Member of JSU first volleyball team
Briana Reid, Bowling
- 2013-16
- SWAC Tournament MVP
- Led programm to first SWAC Championship
Tasha Martin-Reed, Basketball
- Forward
- 1994-98
- Ranked among statistical leaders during her career
- Named to 2015 JSU All Legends Basketball Team
Brittany Renner, Soccer
- 2008-2010
- SWAC Tournament MVP
- Led program to first SWAC Championship
Wendi Reed, Softball
- 2B
- 2009-12
- SWAC Hitter of the Year
- Led Nation in stolen bases
- Led program to first ever SWAC Championship
Evelyn D. Richards, Track and Field
- Hurdler
- 1973-76
- During her career at JSU, she set records in the 60-yard indoor hurdles and 80-yard outdoor hurdles
Vanetta Robinson Kelso, Basketball
- Guard/Forward
- 1980-84
- Ranked among top scorers on team during her career
- Led the team in steals (88) in the 1983-84 season
- Helped lead Lady Tigers to their first appearance in NCAA national tournament
- SWAC MVP in 1983
- Highest scholastic average on team in 1982, 1983 and 1984
- All SWAC
- JSU SHOF
- Named to 2015 JSU All Legends Basketball Team
Dayzsha Rogan, Basketball
- Guard
- 2018-22
- Anchored JSU to 60 wins in three seasons
- Three-time All-SWAC Selection
- Helped lead the team to 21 consecutive wins during 2022 season
- SWAC Player of the Year 2021
- Two-time SWAC Tournament SWAC Tournament MVP (2021 and 2022)
Sabeana Romero, Softball
- 3B
- 2012-13
- SWAC Hitter of the Year
- SWAC Player of the Year
Tera Sherriff, Basketball
- Forward
- 1992-95
- Black College All America, All SWAC, SWAC All-Tournament team
- Ranked in top ten in career scoring with 1,477 points
- Led the Lady Tigers in scoring and rebounding for three consecutive years (1992-93, 1993-94 and 1994-95)
- Named to 2015 JSU All Legends Basketball Team
Rosalyn Spann, Basketball
- Guard
- 1994-98
- SWAC Freshman of the Year in 1994
- Led the SWAC in scoring and rebounding in 1996-97 season
- Leading scorer in JSU history with 2,035 points
- Named to the All SWAC team four years
- Named to 2015 JSU All Legends Basketball Team
Janice Staffney, Basketball
- Guard
- 1983-87
- Led team in points scored (519), scoring average (18.5) and free throws made (99) in 1986-87
- All SWAC
- JSU SHOF
- Named to 2015 JSU All Legends Basketball Team
Lauren Stewart, Softball
- CF
- 2022
- .390 average with 57 hits and eight home runs
- All-SWAC, All-Tournament selection
Yolanda Stringfellow, Tennis
Lynette Suttlar, Basketball
- Forward
- 1984-86
- One of Mississippi's top high school recruits
- Real Estate entrepreneur
- Named to 2015 JSU All Legends Basketball Team
Canessa Swanson, Softball
- C/2B/3B
- 2013-16
- First-Team All-SWAC
- SWAC Co-Player of the Year
Lori Thomas Swanier, Tennis
Kelsey Townsend, Softball
- P
- 2013-15
- 26 career wins, 2 saves
Karen Taylor Johnson, Basketball
- Center
- 1980-84
- Led team in scoring (502 pts.) in 1981-82
- Scored 1,656 career points
- Helped lead JSU to 1982 SWAC championship
- Helped lead JSU to SWAC Tournament Championships In 1982, 1983 and 1984
- Played professionally in Europe
- JSU SHOF in 2009
- Named to 2015 JSU All Legends Basketball Team
Adina Valdez, Track and Field, sprinter
- 1980s
- Sprinter, 400 meters and 800 meters
- Competed internationally for Trinidad and Tobago
Annette Hibbler Webb, Basketball
- Center
- 1981-95
- Recognized as on of the best centers in JSU History
- Named SWAC Freshman of the Year
- Two-time All SWAC
- Team's leading rebounder
- Named to 2015 JSU All Legends Basketball Team
Hannah White, Track and Field
- 2021-22
- Shot put, discus
- Won SWAC Outstanding Field Performer
- NCAA qualifier in both events
Verita White, Volleyball
- 2002-06
- Led team in multiple categories during her career
- All SWAC
Amanda Vasquez, Softball
- SS
- 2012-13
- 91 career hits, 27 doubles
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