MACwood Squares is our summer reading series on the best athletes in Mid-American Conference sports history. This week features Northern Illinois. Looking for your MAC school? Consult our schedule for other teams and please submit your nominees as well.
Consider this the obligatory Title IX post. There will be females present in this NIU Photoshop, so hopefully the pictures do them justice.
As always, no voting goes with the women, but I just want to run down the list of those who might make the final nonet:
BASKETBALL — Lisa Foss was the all-time scorer with exactly 2,500 points for her career. Stephanie Raymond was the only player in school history to be drafted by the WNBA, and E.C. Hill had the most prolific WNBA career, playing for four teams in three seasons.
GOLF — Nicole Jeray had a great NIU career and a rather sustained time on the LPGA tour, winning three tournaments as well as two championships in Asia in 2002.
SOCCER — Midfielder/forward Anne Mucci was one of a couple dozen NCAA players in history to score 40 career goals and 40 career assists. She had 43 of each.
SOFTBALL — As a hitter, Jill Justin had a career 1.353 OPS and helped lead NIU to the College World Series in 1988, alongside Beth Schrader, who holds several pitching records.
MULTI-SPORT LEGENDS — One sport just isn't enough for some people. Ruth Fender played five sports: softball, basketball, field hockey, golf, and volleyball. And Jean Pankonin played on SIX different sports teams: basketball, softball, volleyball, field hockey, tennis, and badminton. They actually used to have varsity badminton. Showoffs.
If we're missing any, let us know. Otherwise, let's make some cases, because right now it's wide open.
Who are your nominees for Northern Illinois's MACwood Squares? Comment below, tweet us at @HustleBelt or submit a FanPost making your case. The final nine will be revealed Friday.