The Atlantic 10 Conference announced this week that Anne Gregory O'Connell has been selected as one of 16 Atlantic 10 Trailblazers.  These 16 women—one from each member institution and one from the conference office—will be recognized at the upcoming Atlantic 10 Men's and Women's Basketball Championships for their contributions in spearheading the growth of women's collegiate athletics.
 
The Trailblazers initiative is part of a year-long celebration of Title IX's 50^th anniversary.
 
"It is an honor and privilege to recognize the Atlantic 10 Conference Title IX Trailblazers. Each of these women have paved the way for thousands of girls and women to participate in and be successful in sports and life," stated A-10 Commissioner Bernadette V. McGlade "Title IX was, and is, landmark federal legislation, however it required women over the last five decades to step up and take advantage of the equal opportunities created for girls and women. Our society, communities, corporations, and country are better because of each of our Trailblazers and the skills acquired through sport."
 
A member of the Rams from 1976-80, Gregory is the leading scorer and rebounder in Fordham Basketball history-- men's or women's.  In four years, she accumulated 2,548 points and 1,999 rebounds, the latter of which stood as the record in all of women's college basketball (AIAW and NCAA) until 2009. 
 
The first female inductee into the Fordham Athletics Hall of Fame (1986), Gregory is also the leading shot blocker (200) in Fordham Women's Basketball history.
 
Gregory's 1,999 boards are 800 clear of G'mrice Davis (2014-18) in second place on the Fordham all-time list.  For her career, Gregory averaged 15.7 rebounds per game.  Davis' career average of 9.6 caroms per contest also ranks second.  Her 32 boards against Cortland State in the 1977 AIAW State Tournament still stand as the program single-game record and are the most rebounds ever grabbed in a single game at Alumni Hall/Carnesecca Arena.
 
With Gregory in the front court, Head Coach Kathy Mosolino's Rams turned in a four-year record of 90-38, good enough for a winning percentage of .703.  Their best finish came during Gregory's junior year in 1978-79, when Fordham hosted the AIAW East Regional and beat Long Beach State in the round of 16 before falling in the quarterfinals to a Tennessee team coached by a 26-year-old upstart named Pat Summitt.
 
A two-time nominee for the Wade Trophy as the national player of the year, O'Connell briefly played professionally in France before returning to the United States.  A member of the inaugural class of Atlantic 10 Women's Basketball Legends in 2013, Gregory was also inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame in 2017.  In 2009, she became the first Fordham women's basketball player to have her number retired, as "55" was raised to the rafters of the Rose Hill Gymnasium.
 
One of seven children who grew up in the Parkchester section of the Bronx, Gregory attended Monsignor Scanlan High School before coming to Fordham, where she graduated cum laude with a degree in sociology in 1980. 
 

Debbie Richardson, Atlantic 10 Rebecca Stimson, Davidson Dr. R. Elaine Dreidame, Dayton Amy Alger Irvin, Duquesne Anne Gregory O'Connell, Fordham Jen Derevjanik, George Mason Elana Meyers Taylor, George Washington Linda Hester, La Salle

Roz Iasillo, Loyola Chicago Dr. Kathy Coyner, Massachusetts Lauren E. Anderson, Rhode Island Mary Sue Terry, Richmond Barb Questa, St. Bonaventure Natasha Cloud, Saint Joseph's Marilyn Nolen, Saint Louis Pat Stauffer, VCU