Feb. 6, 2007

George Mason University will celebrate the 21st Annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day tomorrow at the Atrium at Bull Run Hall on George Mason's Prince William Campus. The Patriots women's basketball head coach Debbie Taneyhill will be a featured speaker from 1:00-1:30 p.m. during a reception for Mason female athletes.

More: February 7th is the 21st annual celebration of National Girls and Women In Sports Day! This year's theme is "Throw like a girl - Lead like a champion!" George Mason will join thousands of sports educators, coaches, athletic directors, recreation directors, students and parents across the country to show their support of this day that honors the achievements and encourages the participation of girls and women in sports with a reception for the female athletes at Mason. Snacks will be served and Mason athletic giveaways will be handed out, including 40 tickets to the women's home basketball game on Thursday, February 8th v. Delaware.

About National Girls and Women In Sports Day NGWSD began in 1987 as a day to remember Olympic volleyball player Flo Hyman for her athletic achievements and her work to assure equality for women's sports. Since that time, NGWSD has evolved into a day to acknowledge the past and recognize current sports achievements, the positive influence of sports participation, and the continuing struggle for equality and access for women in sports. NGWSC is jointly organized by the National Girls and Women In Sport Coalition, which is comprised of six premiere girls-and women-serving organizations in the United States: Girl Scouts of the USA, Girls Incorporated, the National Association for Girls and Women in Sport, National Women's Law Center, the Women's Sports Foundation, and the YWCA USA.

George Mason University salutes all its women's national champions In recognition of the 21st National Girls and Women In Sports Day George Mason University would like to recognize all of our women athletes and their coaches. Mason would like to honor thousands of students, parents, coaches, athletic directors, and sports educators who continue to support girls and women in sports.

1985 National Champions Women's Soccer The 1985 women's soccer team, just four years after having played its first-ever varsity match, claimed the school's first National Championship. The Patriots defeated the University of North Carolina 2-0 on November 24, 1985 to claim George Mason's first national championship. The Green and Gold's Pam Baughman was named the tournament's MVP while junior Betsy Drambour earned Defensive MVP honors. Also earning all-tournament honors for Mason were Kim Maslin, Lisa Gmitter and Kim Crabbe.

Individual National Champions Women's Track and Field and Trap and Skeet

A total of 12 Patriots women athletes have claimed individual national championships
*Terri Dendy, Peggy McVey, Derial Osborne, Sandra Williams - Women's Track & Field,
		4x400 Relay (1984 outdoor)
*Terri Dendy - Women's Track & Field, 400 Meters (1988 indoor)
*Nena Gage - Women's Track & Field, Long Jump (1988 outdoor)
*Kim Saddic - Women's Track & Field, 10,000 Meters (1992 outdoor)
*Diane Guthrie-Gresham - Women's Track & Field, Long Jump (1991, both indoor & outdoor, 1995 indoor) and Heptathlon (1994, `95)
*Angie Brown - Women's Track & Field, Long Jump (1998 outdoor)
*Heather Herhold -- Trap & Skeet, Ladies High Overall Champion (1989, `90)
*Kelly Doll -- Trap & Skeet, Ladies High Overall Champion (1991)
*Valerie Gath -- Trap & Skeet, Ladies High Overall Champion (1999)