WESTON, Mass.—Regis College women’s basketball head coach Julie Plant (Gorham, Maine) was named to the Women’s Little East Conference 25th Anniversary Team. The silver anniversary announcement was made as part of the LEC Basketball Championship games. Plant, who played for the University of the Southern Maine from 1996-2000, has been a head coach at Regis College since the 2005-06 season.
“It’s a great honor,” said Plant. “There are so many talented women who have played in the Little East Conference.”
Plant was one of 25 student-athletes and a coach to be named to the team. LEC administrators voted upon team members.
To be considered for the 25th anniversary teams, a student-athlete must have met the following criteria: a conference player of the year award winner, and/or a two- time All-Little East, first-team selection. The student-athletes that earned All-Little East, first-team honors during its first two years as a conference-sponsored sport were also placed on the ballot.
In her time at USM she helped lead the Huskies to two NCAA Division III national finals appearances.
“Our team (Southern Me.) focused on winning the conference every year to earn the right to play in the NCAA’s, with the ultimate goal of winning a National Championship,” Plant said. In the 2000 NCAA Northeast Second Round, Plant led Southern Maine to a 72-68 win over Salem State to advance.
In that game she went 9-for-19 from the field, and 6-for-10 from the three-point line. She finished the game with 28 points. Plant feels that she was able to accomplish what she did in her career because of her teammates, and the level of play they demanded.
“I was fortunate to play with so many talented athletes that helped me play at higher level,” says Plant.
“Playing with All-Americans Joanna Brown and Tracey Libby helped me play at a high level, and we all played together and made each other better.”
Both Brown and Libby were named to the 25th Anniversary team as well.
Plant, and the Southern Maine Huskies faced Washington (Mo.) in both the 1998 and 2000 NCAA finals.
To commemorate her spectacular career, Plant was inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006.
In 1998, Plant was named to the NCAA All-Tournament Team, as well as teammate (Joanna) Brown.
Although a gifted athlete, Plant credits those around her for any success or recognition she has earned.
She said it takes, “A great coaching staff and talented team” to win and receive honors.
Plant has led the Regis College women’s basketball team to four consecutive The Commonwealth Coast Conference appearances, one TCCC championship, and with tonight’s Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference quarterfinal game, two ECAC tournaments.
The teams ECAC quarterfinal game will be against Plant’s alma mater (Southern Maine) at 7:00 PM in Gorham, Maine.
Initially formed in 1986 as a six-team men and women's basketball conference, the Little East Conference has since grown to sponsoring championship play in 19 intercollegiate athletics. The 2010-11 academic years marks the 25th anniversary for the Little East Conference.