New London Athlete Among 2017 CT Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Inductees

NEW LONDON, CT - The Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Committee announced Wednesday its 2017 class of inductees, according to a release.

The 30th Annual Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be held on Wednesday, April 19, at Cascade Banquet Facility on 480 Sherman Avenue in Hamden.

2017 Inductees include:

The Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame was the first organization of its kind in the country. It was created in 1987 by five professional and personal friends who strongly felt the need to honor outstanding basketball players, coaches, officials, and advocates.

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The Hall of Fame honors those who have contributed to the enhancement of women’s basketball in Connecticut -- either through participation, through service, through support, or through achievement. The 2017 Connecticut Women’s Basketball Hall of Famers exemplify the finest achievements in Connecticut.

Jessica Grossarth played for Fairfield University from 1995-1998. She was named MAAC Conference Rookie of the Year, selected to the All-MAAC Tourney, named to the All-Met Team and MAAC Player of the Year. She captained the team during her senior year as the team won the MAAC Championship and qualified for the NCAA tournament. She earned First Team MAAC recognition during her junior and senior year. Jess finished her Fairfield career with 1677 points and a 14.5 points per game average. Jessica’s accomplishments etched her name in the All-Time Fairfield University Women’s Basketball list in at least eight categories. She is currently an attorney at Pullman & Comley LLC in Bridgeport.

Michelle Florin Custis was a guard on Coach David Strong’s Masuk High School team from 1991-1995. During her playing career, Masuk earned an 88-9 overall record, won the Class L Championship in 1995 with a 26-0- record, and was ranked #1 in Connecticut and New England in Michelle’s senior year. During her career, Michelle scored a total of 1814 points, averaging 18.7 points per game and handed out 214 assists. Michelle was a part of Masuk’s 50-game winning streak from 1994-96 and the amazing 93-game regular-season game winning streak from 1993-97. She was a two-time All-Stater, named CT Post Super 15 Player of the Year and an Honorable Mention All-American. Michelle went on to play basketball at the University of Richmond.

Susan Altieri graduated from North Haven High School in 1981 after playing three sports for four years. She earned all-league and all-state honors in basketball, volleyball, and softball. As a guard/shooting guard Altieri scored 1294 points, and averaged 24.6 points, 8.3 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. Her volleyball teams won two state championships; the basketball and softball teams were Housatonic League Champions. Sue went on to a successful basketball and softball career at Division I Providence College while earning Dean’s List honors all four years.

Denise Bierly, head coach at Eastern CT State University, is the winningest active coach in the Little East Conference. During her 23 years at Eastern, Denise’s team have won 436 games, made 12 post-season appearances, advanced to the Division III national championship game in 2003 and the Sweet 16 in 2015. Ten times in the last 16 years, Denise’s ECSU Warriors have won at least 20 games. Her teams have won six Little East regular season titles and four conference tourneys. Denise has been honored as Little East Coach of the Year three times, New England Collegiate Coach of the Year, and the New England Women’s Basketball Association Coach of the Year.

Judy Ruthko of Vernon, CT has been a referee since 1989. The increased level of coaching, higher skill level of the players, greater involvement by spectators, and change in location of the championship venue are changes Judy has observed in nearly 30 years of refereeing. Judy was selected to officiate State Tournament games from 1999-2001 and 2004-2016. During that time, she officiated ten State Championship games. In 2010, Judy received the Nate Winnick Award from the New Haven Tap Off Club as the Official of the Year. She is currently the President of IAABO Board #10.

Bill Dixon maintained full-time jobs at Dixwell Neighborhood Corporation and then as a New Haven City Firefighter while filling part-time coaching positions as part of the Quinnipiac College women’s basketball staff for 16 years – 6 years as assistant and ten years as head coach. He helped Quinnipiac to become one of the most dominating Divisions II teams in the Northeast. Dixon helped lead to national prominence as the team reached the NCAA quarterfinals three years in a row, losing to the National Champions all three times. In 1995, Dixon coordinated the City of New Haven’s efforts in coordinating the Special Olympics World Games. On special assignment to the Mayor, Bill created city-wide youth programs that are still high-quality, highly impactful aspects of the city.

Coach Fred P. Williams has had an amazing career at Northwestern Regional High School in Winsted, CT. His overall basketball record is currently 594-289. Fred’s 1989-90 team was undefeated as they won the State Championship. His teams have won 10 Berkshire League Championships and made 31 state tourney appearances. Fred has been named NHSCA [National High School Coaches’ Association] Regional Coach of the Year three times and has been a finalist for National Coach of the Year all three of those years. Some of the most memorable highlights of Fred’s career have been shared by his family in truly unique ways. All three daughters played for their father on the 1993-4 team. Two of those daughters are now on Fred’s coaching staff.

Patch file photo.