Hall of Fame
A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Ford was arguably, the greatest women’s basketball player in the 10-year history of the Gateway Athletics Conference (the home for Missouri Valley Conference women’s athletics prior to July 1, 1992), Ford still ranks as the nation’s top career rebounder and stands second on the all-time scoring list.
In 1985-86, Ford became the first player in NCAA history to lead the country in scoring (30.6 points per game) and rebounding (16.9 boards) in the same season. That campaign, she earned first-team Kodak All-America honors.
Although Ford’s scoring totals are impressive (her career total of 2,636 points is 16th on the all-time NCAA chart), her rebounding numbers are astounding.
Ford’s NCAA record of 1,887 career rebounds is a mere 225 boards from her closest competitor. Her carom total almost doubles the second-highest career league sum – 945 by Southern Illinois’ Amy Rakers.
In addition to holding the top two NCAA single-season rebounding efforts (534 in 1984-85 and 506 in 1985-86), Ford owns the NCAA career rebounds per game average record (16.1 per tilt).
During her four-year career with the Bulldogs, Ford led Drake to a cumulative 88-29 record, 16-2 league mark in each of her final three campaigns and two NCAA Tournament appearances (1984 and 1986).
Ford, who was a finalist for the Wade Trophy in 1985 and 1986 and was named the Women’s Sports Foundation Player of the Year in 1986, had a knack for point-rebound double-doubles.
Ford, who amassed 102 career double-doubles, had 20 or more double-doubles in each of her four seasons at Drake.
A Women’s Basketball Yearbook All-America team selection in each of her final three seasons, she was named the league’s MVP in 1985 and 1986. A four-time first-team all-conference choice, she was league player of the week 10 times in her career.
After graduating from Drake in 1986, Ford enjoyed a successful professional career playing in Italy, Brazil, Sweden and Israel. She was part of seven league championship teams, and won such personal awards as Most Valuable Player and Newcomer of the Year, both in Israel.