[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 4]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 5408]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



    TRIBUTE TO THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAME WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. MICHAEL FERGUSON

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, April 3, 2001

  Mr. FERGUSON. Mr. Speaker, on Sunday night, April 1, 2001, the 
University of Notre Dame Women's Basketball Team won the national 
championship. As a proud alumnus, I stand before you today to offer my 
congratulations and to highlight this incredible accomplishment.
  It was a storybook ending to a storybook season. In order to defeat a 
tough Purdue team and win their first national championship, the Notre 
Dame team rallied and overcame a double-digit deficit. Only four games 
have been decided by two points or less since the inception of the 
women's national championship tournament in 1982.
  I wish to congratulate the entire team for all their hard-work, 
dedication, and perseverance. This season truly was a team effort, 
beginning with this year's coach of the year, Notre Dame's coach 
Muffett McGraw.
  I also wish to congratulate Notre Dame center, Ruth Riley, who was so 
reliable in the clutch at the end of the championship game and all 
season long. Accordingly, she has been honored as both the consensus 
National Player of the Year and the tournament's most outstanding 
player.
  From the gritty play of guard Niele Ivey to the long range sharp-
shooting of Alicia Ratay, this year Notre Dame had what it took to be 
the best. The other team members, including Amanda Barksdale, Imani 
Dunbar, Ericka Haney, Monique Hernandez, Jeneka Joyce, Meaghan Leahy, 
Le'Tania Severe, Kelley Siemon and Karen Swanson, made this the most 
well-rounded team in the nation. Our hats are off to them as the 2001 
National Champions.

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