Hall of Fame
The first women’s basketball team consisted of Jean Halladay, Jean Soter, Elsie Shemin-Roth, Mildred Leepa, Paula Robbins, Jonnie Koch, Iris Davidson, Vivian Bienenfeld, Janet Fahning and Head Coach Hank Scalise.
The inaugural varsity women’s basketball team at Utica College persevered and succeeded in a time when college athletics were reserved strictly for males. In this respect, the 1949-1950 women’s basketball team truly personified the nickname “Pioneers”. The women’s basketball team, led by Head Coach Hank Scalise and Captain Elsie Shemin-Roth, blazed a trail in women’s athletics and helped to set the stage for the advancement of women in sport, not just here at Utica College, but across the entire country.
After pleading with then-Director of Athletics Henry Varhley and the College’s administration, the hopeful cagers successfully achieved the right to form a varsity women’s basketball team in late-October 1949.
The then-Lady Tangerlines, outfitted in tattered and torn men’s soccer uniforms, took to the court more than half century ago and used an undying effort and enthusiasm to pave the way for women sports at Utica College. The team started off with 11 women, most of whom had never played basketball before. Under the direction and assistance of Coach Scalise, the women practiced three times a week at the local YWCA, and quickly developed into a viable threat each and every time they took the court.
On Monday, January 9, 1950 the Tangerlines made their debut against the Polish League of American Veterans women’s team as a preliminary to the men’s game against Rochester Tech. Shemin-Roth scored the program’s first-ever basket when she knocked down the opening two-pointer with a quick lay-up. The Tangerlines fell behind in the contest, but they rallied an offensive drive with two minutes left on the game clock led by Paula Robbins, who sank a spectacular one-handed shot from the keyhole. She was ably backed up by Mildred Leepa, Jean Halladay and Jean Soter. Despite their spirited effort, they lost their first varsity contest, 34-12.
The Tangerlines notched the College’s first victory in a women’s sport on Saturday, February 11, 1950 when they edged out the Utica School of Commerce, 14-12, on the court at Utica Free Academy. Janet Fahning and Paula Robbins each tallied five points in the victory, while Vivian Bienenfeld accounted for four of the Tangerline tallies. They trailed 4-2 at the half, but perseverance and inspired ball led the ladies to a come-from-behind victory as they controlled possession for the majority of the second half.
Over the course of their first year of competition the UC women’s team squared off against the likes of the PLAV and Utica Cutlery, as well as the Holland Patent girl’s team. In the Spring of 1998, the Lady Tangerlines were welcomed back to Utica College to receive their long overdue varsity letters during a reunion and awards ceremony on campus.
