![]() Harris as a senior at Delta State | |||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Born | Minter City, Mississippi, U.S. | February 10, 1955||||||||||||||||||||
Died | January 18, 2022 Mound Bayou, Mississippi, U.S. | (aged 66)||||||||||||||||||||
Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Listed weight | 185 lb (84 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Career information | |||||||||||||||||||||
High school | Amanda Elzy (near Greenwood, Mississippi) | ||||||||||||||||||||
College | Delta State (1973–1977) | ||||||||||||||||||||
NBA draft | 1977: 7th round, 137th overall pick | ||||||||||||||||||||
Selected by the New Orleans Jazz | |||||||||||||||||||||
Playing career | 1979–1980 | ||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Center | ||||||||||||||||||||
Career history | |||||||||||||||||||||
1979–1980 | Houston Angels | ||||||||||||||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |||||||||||||||||||||
Basketball Hall of Fame as player | |||||||||||||||||||||
Women's Basketball Hall of Fame | |||||||||||||||||||||
Medals
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Lusia Mae Harris (February 10, 1955 – January 18, 2022) was an American professional basketball player. Harris is considered to be one of the pioneers of women's basketball. She played for Delta State University and won three consecutive Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW) National Championships, the predecessors to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championships, from 1975 to 1977. On the international level, she represented the United States' national team, and won the silver medal in the 1976 Olympic Games, the first women's basketball tournament in the Olympic Games. She played professional basketball with the Houston Angels of the Women's Professional Basketball League (WBL) and was the first and only woman ever, to be officially drafted by the National Basketball Association (NBA). For her achievements, Harris was inducted to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and Women's Basketball Hall of Fame.