Women's Basketball | 12/31/2022 10:45:00 AM

SPRINGFIELD, MASS. – Cheyney University legends, Valerie Walker 82' and Yolanda Laney 84' along with the 1982 Cheyney University (Cheyney State College) women's basketball team, that made it all the way to the first NCAA Women's Basketball Division I championship game, are on the ballot for the first time as eligible candidates for enshrinement into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, for the class of 2023.

According to hoophall.com, the first look at the list of eligible nominees was provided by "NBA Today" on ESPN, hosted by Malika Andrews, Richard Jefferson, Chiney Ogwumike, Kendrick Perkins and Zach Lowe.

A list of all the 2023 eligible candidates can be found at
https://www.hoophall.com/news/naismith-basketball-hall-of-fame-announces-eligible-candidates-for-the-class-of-2023/

The 1982 team along with Walker and Laney will be on the ballot as part of the Women's Veteran Direct -Elect committee.

As a freshman, Valerie Walker scored 504 points during the 1978-79 season. Walker is a two time-Division I Kodak/State Farm All-American following the 1981 and 1982 seasons, is one of only eight players in PSAC history to score more that 2,000 points and grab 1,000 rebounds. Walker finished her illustrious career, with 2,289 points, which still stood as second most in conference history, heading into the 22-23 season, and grabbed 1,000 rebounds. Valerie Walker was named the Most Outstanding Player in the East regional and a member of the Final Four All-Tournament Team.

Yolanda Laney, was tied for fourth in PSAC history with 2,173 points. Laney was and integral member of the 1982 team and led the Lady Wolves to the 1984 Final Four, while being named a Kodak-All-American. https://twitter.com/CUWolves/status/1607729688356560896?s=20&t=LIWsC1wEYPU4VgxJEIJfeg

Laney earned a place on the 1982 East Regional all-tournament and the Final Four All-Tournament teams. Yolanda Laney was chosen the Most Outstanding Player in the East Regional in 1984.

Laney averaged 21.5 points per game and grabbed 11.3 rebounds a contest in the four games played during the 1984 run to the final four.

Laney, who led University City High to three Public League basketball championships, was Public League Player of the Year as a junior and senior in the 1977-78 seasons and a high school All-American, was inducted inti the Philadelphia Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2021.

The Lady Wolves, led by Laney and Walker and coached by Naismith Hall of Fame coach C. Vivian Stringer, dominated opponents throughout the season finishing with a 24-2 record and headed into the inaugural women's NCAA tournament on a 20-game winning streak, as second seed in the East region.

The Lady Wolves hosted the opening round inside Cope Hall and came away with a 75-64 victory over a 24-4 Auburn University team. The Wolves, then headed to Reynolds Coliseum to face host North Carolina State who were 23-5 and had dispatched of Northwestern in the first round. Cheyney State downed the Wolfpack 74-61 and were on there way to the East Regional final against a 24-5 Kansas State squad that was the number four but had upset the top seed in the East Old Dominion University

in the semifinals. The Lady Wolves posted its 22^nd consecutive victory in dominating fashion with a 93-71 triumph over the Wildcats, to earn a trip to Scope Arena on the campus of Old Dominion in Norfolk, VA.
Walker, the MOP, Laney and Rosetta Guilford were named to the inaugural Eastern Regional All-Tournament Team.

In the National Semifinals, Cheyney went up against Maryland University, who were the 2^nd seed in the west regional and had also defeated it first three opponents by at least 10 points and had scored at least 80 points in each contest.
Once again, the Lady Wolves responded with a strong defensive effort and held the Terrapins to only 66 points in a 76-66 victory, to become the first and only HBCU to reach the Division I championship game.

The first NCAA women's Championship game featured a Division II team from the nations First HBCU and the top ranked 30-1 Louisiana Tech squad that featured three time all-American Pam Kelly, the Wade trophy winner as the nations top women's basketball player and Tournament MOP Janice Lawrence, who became a two time Kodak All-America. The Lady Techsters were the defending women's champion from the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women, (AIAW) from 1981.

Foul trouble for Valerie Walker and Debra Walker, who ended up with the most rebounds during the tournament, with 44 total boards in the five games, along with a scoring drought, combined to turn a 22-18 Cheyney lead at the 7:32 mark of the first half into a 34-22 advantage for La. Tech, with 2:58 left in the half. The Lady Wolves could not get any closer than eight points the rest of the game and eventually fell 76-62.

Current Louisiana State University women's basketball head coach Kim Mulkey, joined Kelly, Laney, Walker and MOP Lawrence on the All-Tournament team for the Final Four. The game was watched by almost six million viewers on CBS and
Walker scored the third most points in the tournament and averaged 18.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game, Walker led the tournament with 40 made field goals over five games and only attempted 18 free-throws connecting on 13 over the life of the tournament.

Laney averaged 16.6 ppg, while grabbing 4.4 rebounds a contest in 1982, while connecting on 35-69 shot attempts a 51.7 shooting percentage.Guilford averaged 14.6 points and 4.6 rebounds in the five games.

HBCU GAMEDAY YouTube  recent story on the 1982 season and run to the championship game with interviews from the players and Coach Stringer   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWnWaGrm3WY&t=679s

Below is a list of those who participated for Cheyney during the final fours in 1982 and 1984.
Eileen Dabney 82 Karen Draughn 82, 84 Sandra Giddins 82, 84 Rosetta Guilford 82 East Regional All-tournament Team. Yolanda Laney 82, 84 Ann Strong 82, 84 Sharon Taylor 82, 84 Debra Walker 82 Valerie Walker 82 Faith Wilds 82
Margaret Diaz 84 East Regional All-Tournament Team, Deborah Thomas 84

According to hoophall.com,

Finalists from the North American and Women's committee for the Class of 2023 will be announced on Friday, February 17, at 5:30 p.m. ET in Salt Lake City, Utah, during NBA All-Star Weekend.

The entire Class of 2023, including those selected by the direct-elect committees, will be unveiled during the NCAA Final Four in Houston, Texas, on Saturday, April 1, in a nationally televised broadcast at 11:00 a.m. EST.

Enshrinement weekend will begin at the Mohegan Sun on Friday, August 11, with the Tip-Off Celebration and Awards Gala, followed by the Enshrinement ceremony on Saturday, August 12, at Springfield's historic Symphony Hall.
VIP Packages for the Hall of Fame Enshrinement Weekend will go on-sale on Friday, February 17. All single-event tickets to the Ceremony, Tip Off Celebration and Awards Gala, as well as other ancillary events, will go on-sale on Saturday, April 1 at 12:00 p.m. EST. All packages and tickets will be available for purchase at hoophall.com.

The complete listing of events and pricing will be released by February 1.