Kate Lynch will be among those with SCSU ties who will be inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame.
Three Individuals, Along With 2007 National Championship Women's Basketball Squad, To Be Inducted Into New England Basketball Hall of Fame
10/5/2009 10:50:31 AM
NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Three individuals with ties to Southern Connecticut State University – former women’s basketball standout Kate Lynch ’08, as well as former women’s coach Joe Frager and men’s coach Art Leary – along with the 2007 NCAA Division II National Championship women’s basketball squad, have been selected for induction into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame. All will be honored at a dinner this Friday night, October 9, at the Mohegan Sun Casino.
The group joins former Owls Archie Tracy ’64 and Kathleen Ann Kochiss ’84, who were selected earlier this summer under the high school player category.
A two-time All-American, Lynch finished her career as Southern Connecticut’s all-time leader in points (1,779), field goals made (650) and free-throw percentage (.803: 407-for-507). In addition, she set school single-season records for points per game (21.8), field goals attempted (522), free throws made (169) and points (647).
Even though the Owls won the National Championship in her junior season, Lynch’s best statistical campaign came as a senior. In that season, 2007-08, she ranked sixth in the nation in scoring, 26th in steals per game (3.0) and 92nd in free-throw percentage (.805). Within the Northeast-10 Conference, she ranked second in scoring and steals per game, ninth in free-throw percentage and three-point field-goal percentage (.356) and 10th in rebounding (7.1 per game).
Lynch also collected First-Team All-Northeast-10 Conference honors as a junior and senior and was named Regional Player of the Year and All-ECAC as a senior.
Frager spent nine seasons as head coach of the Owls (1998-2007) and helped guide the program to a 189-83 mark and four NCAA Tournament berths, highlighted by the 2007 National Championship.
The 2007 Molton/Women’s Division II Bulletin National Coach of the Year, Frager also captured the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year on two occasions. He was selected as conference Coach of the Year four times while leading the Owls. Southern Connecticut reached the post-season five times during Frager’s tenure.
Leary was affiliated with SCSU from 1978-2009. The program’s career leader in victories, he compiled an overall mark of 374-413. During his tenure with the Owls, he guided the team to four NCAA Tournament berths.
Leary coached 33 All-Conference performers and led the Owls to an Elite Eight appearance in 1997.
Leary is a former chairman of the Division II National All-American Committee for the National Association of Basketball Coaches and member of the NABC's Research Committee.