Greatness will be remembered today at the Stan Sheriff Center.
The Hawaii women’s basketball team has dedicated today’s game against Cal State Northridge to the memory of the late Rainbow Wahine forward Judy Mosley-McAfee, who died Sept. 16 in her native California after a three-year battle with cancer. She was 45.
Before the 5 p.m. game, the Wahine will hold their annual alumnae game at 2.
There will be a video tribute to Mosley — the dominant 6-foot-1 player who set all manner of program records from 1986 to 1990 — on the Sheriff big screens at halftime of the Northridge game.
UH will also try to respond to a bitterly disappointing 78-74 overtime home loss to Cal Poly on Wednesday, in which the Wahine could not hold onto a four-point lead with 11 seconds left in regulation.
RAINBOW WAHINE BASKETBALL At Stan Sheriff Center >> Who: Cal State Northridge (5-10, 1-0 Big West) at Hawaii (6-7, 0-1) >> When: 5 p.m. today >> TV: OC Sports (Ch. 16) >> Radio: KKEA (1420-AM) >> Also: Alumnae game, 2 p.m. (CSUN game ticket required) |
Several of Mosley’s former teammates will be on hand for today’s ceremonies, and two of her 10 siblings, brothers Bennie and Terrence, made the trip from the mainland to represent their parents, as well as Judy’s husband, Marvin, and their four children.
"Although I’m coming back at a solemn time, just to be able to celebrate the life and the accomplishments of Judy athletically, it just all came together and I didn’t want to miss it," said Val Agee, who was a freshman when Mosley was a senior. Agee is making her first UH alumnae game appearance.
Mosley, a 1997 UH Sports Circle of Honor inductee, was in her own stat club. She scored a record 2,479 points and grabbed 1,441 rebounds, and led UH to its first NCAA tournament win at Montana in 1990.
"Just for any one player to do what she did in just four years, it’s incredible," said UH senior forward Kamilah Jackson, the only other member of the UH 1,000-point, 1,000-rebound club. "I just think that she’s an amazing player, and it’s really hard to do!"
Like Mosley, Agee played professionally overseas after her UH career and became a teacher and a high school basketball coach in California.
"I just kind of learned … watching her, whatever trials and tribulations you go through, you can grow through," Agee said.
There will be roughly 35 Wahine alumnae on hand, as well as former coaches Patsy Dung and Vince Goo. Goo coached Mosley and has said she stands as the most dominant UH basketball player, men’s or women’s.
"I’m hoping we get the opportunity where my kids can actually sit and talk with them a little bit," UH coach Laura Beeman said of the alums. "Obviously, the tribute to Judy Mosley will be a fantastic event to recognize her for all of her great accomplishments, on and off the court for life.
"And then as far as Northridge, I want to see the bounce-back."
The Mosley brothers will be presented with an honorary captain’s game ball by Beeman before tipoff of the CSUN game.
"This is just incredible, and it’s over and beyond what my parents wanted for Judy at the University of Hawaii," Bennie Mosley said. "When Judy was selecting colleges (out of La Puente High), she was sought by 85 different colleges. My parents and Judy chose the University of Hawaii because they felt that she would be taken care of the best there, especially being so far away from home.
"Hawaii and the athletics (department), the coaches, the staff, the community, have proven themselves even after her death, by bestowing this great honor upon her."