During halftime of the men’s basketball game on Jan. 25, former women’s basketball players Kiely Schork, A’ 08, and Joelle Graham, A’ 05, have been inducted into Loyola’s Hall of Fame. Ed Wahden, A’ 62, (baseball) and the men’s basketball team from 1945-46 were also named Hall of Famers on Saturday.

This is the first time in the history of the Loyola Hall of Fame that women’s basketball honored two former players since establishing the team.

Both Schork and Graham made a significant contribution to the team’s success, including being apart of the first women’s team from Loyola to be invited to play in the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics national tournament in 2005.

Within school records, Schork had the most three pointers made, 501, as well as one of Loyola’s all time leading scorers with 1,866 career points. Graham also holds a few records of her own in steals, 372, assists, 724, and free throws made, 417.

In 2008, Schork made a name for herself by not only helping the Wolf Pack qualify for their third national tournament, but advancing to the quarter-finals, which is the farthest any Loyola basketball team has gone since the men’s team of 1945.

Schork, who accepted the girls’ basketball coaching position at Archbishop Chapelle High School in Metairie in 2011, was supported by her whole team cheering for her in the stands as she was given her award.

The men’s basketball team was honored for winning Loyola’s only national title in 1945, and then almost repeating it the following year, going all the way to the semi-finals until losing to Southern Illinois University.

Men’s head coach Michael Giorlando commented on the Hall of Fame inductees and the positive impact it had on his team.

“We talked to the players about the importance of the Hall of Fame, the significance and rich tradition of our athletic program over the years. They wanted to win for our fans, for our honorees tonight, and particularly our 1945-1946 basketball team that is being honored,” Giorlando said.

Psychology senior Jasmine Brewer was among the first to reflect on the significance of this year’s Hall of Fame game, as a current player for the women’s basketball team.

“They’ve earned their keep to get where they are. To know that the torch is still being carried and the legacy of the players working hard for the program and making a difference is still being done. I feel privileged to be a part of that,” Brewer said.

She also considers what being inducted into the Hall of Fame would mean for her own career as a member of the pack.

“I think it would mean a lot. When you work hard for something and you put your all into it and you get rewarded for what you do is always a good feeling. It would be a big plus,” Brewer said.

Women’s head coach Kellie Kennedy also spoke of the importance of this ceremony to not only her players but to the Loyola community as a whole.

“It’s a great ceremony and a great opportunity to have people exposed to our program, and we have players currently who display everything that we want them to. It’s a time for them to feel like they can shine and we have a lot of players in each class who are hall of fame material,” Kennedy said.

Mass communications junior and guard Janeicia Neely also pays homage to the former players.

“It’s definitely nice to see the players that have done well here at Loyola. It definitely motivates me seeing what these ladies have accomplished,” Neely said.

In the upcoming weeks as the women’s team fights for a chance at a postseason, Neely says they hope to stand where the 2005 team once stood, if not further in the tournament.

Jose Garza can be contacted at [email protected]

Mark Robinson can be contacted at [email protected]