UConn Hoop Legend Laura Lishness Is Now A Big East Legend

STORRS, CT — University of Connecticut women’s basketball alumna Laura Lishness, a member of the Class of 1991, was selected as a member of the inaugural Big East Basketball Legends Recognition Program.

The conference announced the honorees Tuesday.

Each of the conference's 11 member schools were asked to select a former prominent coach or player from both their men's and women's programs to be honored at the upcoming Big East Tournaments. The program will be conducted annually.

Lishness and the other 10 women's legends will be honored during the tournament quarterfinals on Saturday at Mohegan Sun Arena.

A member of the UConn women's basketball team from 1987 to 1991, Lishness totaled 1,303 points, 671 rebounds, 531 assists and 150 steals in her college career. She was named the Big East Freshman of the Year in 1988.

A native of Bristol, Lishness recorded the first triple-double in program history against Providence on March 5, 1989, in the conference tournament.

Lishness helped the Huskies to new heights during her time in Storrs. The Huskies won their first Big East regular season and tournament titles in 1989 and made their first NCAA Tournament appearance that season. As a co-captain in 1990-91, Lishness helped lead UConn to its first-ever NCAA Final Four appearance. She earned Kodak District 1 All-America honors that season.

Lishness graduated from UConn in 1991 with a degree in sociology.

The premier class of the Big East Women’s Basketball Legends are: Butler's Julie VonDielingen Shelton (1989-93), UConn's Laura Lishness (1987-91), Creighton's Marissa Janning Murphy (2012-17), DePaul's Khara Smith (2002-06), Georgetown's Kris Witfill (1989-93), Marquette's Allazia Blockton (2015-19), Providence's Kathy Finn Hill (1980-84), Debbie Beckford of St. John's (1979-83), Seton Hall's Jodi Brooks (1990-94), Villanova’s Harry Perretta (1978-2020), and Xavier's Ta'Shia Phillips (2007-11). Included in the list of honorees are seven former conference players of the year, a four-time BIG EAST Coach of the Year, six All-Americans, an all-time program scoring leader and two all-time school rebounding leaders.

For more on each BIG EAST Legend, click HERE.