Laura Sale inducted into the WCC HOF

Laura Sale O’Connell, University of Portland
Laura Sale O’Connell was the ultimate student-athlete, starring on the court while shining in the classroom. Sale O’Connell, who still ranks fifth all-time in UP program history with 1,542 career points, helped lead the Pilots to three NCAA Tournaments in the mid-1990’s and was named an Academic All-American in 1996. She also still ranks fifth all-time at Portland in field goals (596), is tied for eighth in free throws made (287) and is 10th in rebounds (579).

After averaging in double figures in points as both a sophomore and a junior en route to All-West Coast Conference Honors, Sale O’Connell had perhaps her best season as a senior in 1995-96. That year, she was named the WCC Player of the Year after leading the Pilots to the WCC regular season championship. She led the conference in scoring with a 19.2 points per game mark, had a season and career-high 30 points against University of San Francisco at the WCC Tournament and she garnered United Press International (UPI) All-America Honorable Mention.

The 116 field goals Sale O’Connell made that year against WCC opponents are still an all-time league season record. The 577 points she scored as a senior ranks fifth on Portland’s all-time single-season charts, while her per game average that year is eighth best all-time. Sale O’Connell was a two-time All-WCC First Team selection and was selected to the WCC All-Tournament Team twice. She landed conference all-academic accolades three times and garnered all-region all-academic honors as both a junior and a senior.

Following college, Sale O’Connell earned an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship before playing a year professionally in Germany. She would go onto become a long-time high school teacher and girls basketball coach.

PurpleGeezer wrote:Wouldn't that have been a recruiting violation?