Nice Girls Finish First: The Remarkable Story of Notre Dame's Rise to the Top of Women's College Basketball

by Mark Bradford

Overview

With impressive skill, irrepressible spirit, and more than a touch of class, the 2000-01 Notre Dame women's basketball team reached the pinnacle of college basketball and forever secured a place in the storied sports history of the university and in the hearts of thousands of fans. The senior leadership of Naismith Award winner Ruth Riley, Niele Ivey, and Kelley Siemon combined with the exciting and capable play of underclassmen such as Alicia Ratay and Ericka Haney emphatically spells C-H-A-M-P-I-O-N-S. These Lady Irish practiced and played with relentless resolve, endured injuries and setbacks, balanced emotions and studies, and nurtured bonds—on and off the court—giving new meaning to the words "dedication" and "teamwork." Nice Girls Finish First is the behind-the-scenes story of this remarkable group of young women who, with a goal firmly in mind, set a shining and enduring example of how to achieve in college athletics with grit and grace.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781461664857
Publisher:	Taylor Trade Publishing
Publication date:	11/19/2001
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	240
File size:	9 MB

About the Author

Mark Bradford is a lifelong resident of the South Bend, Indiana area, and has been a sportswriter for both local and national publications since 1977. Currently he is a sports reporter with his hometown newspaper, the South Bend Tribune, where he has covered University of Notre Dame football and men's and women's basketball for the last six years.

Editorial Reviews

This is an inspiring tale about the Notre Dame women's basketball team who, in the 2000-01 season, came together to win the NCAA championship by defeating Purdue 68-66 in a thrilling, heart-stopping final. Bradford, a sports writer since 1977, covers the University of Notre Dame football team and the men's/women's basketball squads for the South Bend Tribune. Here he takes the reader behind the scenes, focusing on what it takes to be a winner. There are the ups and downs, the injuries and setbacks, the emotions and academic studies, plus a coach who changed her style to enable the team to succeed. All of this was tempered by the players' resolve to be the best they could be. This work is a testimony to dedication, perseverance, and teamwork. A good story that includes the White House congratulatory speech and year-by-year statistics. Recommended where demand warrants. Larry R. Little, Penticton P.L., BC Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.

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