Huskies’ Julie Plant and 1999-2000 USM Women’s Basketball Team Inducted into New England Basketball Hall of Fame

Former University of Southern Maine women’s basketball standout guard Julie Plant ’00 (Gorham HS) and the 1999-2000 University of Southern Maine Huskies women’s basketball team are among the honorees who will be inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday, Oct. 6 at the Ryan Center on the campus of the University of Rhode Island.

A 1999-2000 Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Honorable Mention All-American, Plant earned numerous honors during her stellar four-year career, helping the Huskies to two appearances in the NCAA National Championship game in 1998 and 2000.

The fourth-leading scorer in USM history, Plant tallied 1,451 points averaging 11.9 points per game. Plant is also fourth all-time in assists with 472 (3.9 assists per game) and fifth in three-point field goals made (123) and steals (263). A three-time All-Little East Conference selection, Plant was named the 1996-1997 LEC Rookie of the Year and later earned LEC Player of the Year honors as a senior during the 1999-2000 season. Plant also earned All-ECAC honors for three seasons (1997-98, 1998-99 and 1999-2000).

Plant continued her basketball career following graduation and was named the head coach of the Regis College (Waltham, Mass.) women’s basketball team in August 2005. Prior to Regis, Plant worked as an assistant coach of the Glendale Community College women’s basketball program and served as a WNBA Advance Scout for the New York Liberty.

“Julie had a distinguished four-year career,” said veteran USM head coach Gary Fifield. “She is one of the many players who helped establish and maintain the tradition of success associated with USM women’s basketball. What separated her from other players was her competitive drive, intensity and overall commitment to success – characteristics I am sure will translate in her coaching career.”

The Huskies 1999-2000 women’s basketball team is the second Southern Maine women’s basketball team to be inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame. The Huskies’ 1997-1998 team, the first USM team to reach the national championship game, was inducted in 2004.

The 1999-2000 squad reached the championship game of the 2000 NCAA Division III National Championship tournament, finishing with a 26-6 overall record and a 9-5 record in the Little East Conference.

The Huskies 26-6 record marked the 21st consecutive season that USM posted at least 20 wins in a season. Southern Maine also captured its fourth consecutive Little East Conference tournament championship.