Antonelli inducted into Ring of Honor as #21 NC State beats Pitt 83-67 :: WRALSportsFan.com
Raleigh, N.C. — Dreams come true, if you work for it.
No doubt Debbie Antonelli (born Debbie Mulligan) has put in the work to receive the honor she achieved on Thursday evening. As #21 NC State sported a 39-35 halftime lead over Pitt in women’s basketball on Thursday evening, Antonelli was placed in the school’s ring of honor.
“It just feels crazy that my name is going to be up in the rafters at Reynolds,” Antonelli told WRAL.
“I grew up in that gym. I went to games when I was 13 and I learned girls can play basketball in college and they could get a scholarship to do it,” Antonelli continued. “I had no idea. I really had no idea.”
The Cary native started with the Pack in 1982 and played four years until 1986 under the legendary Kay Yow.
“I like to claim I’m the best non-stat starter in NC State (women’s basketball) history,” Antonelli said. “Three years of starting with very few stats.”
But she was valuable to Coach Yow on the court for all of her intangibles and for being the perfect teammate. That has carried on in her time since college, which is why she was inducted into the ring of honor.
Antonelli is a pioneer in broadcast for women’s basketball. She’s currently the top analyst for women’s basketball on ESPN and is regularly assigned men’s college basketball as well. She’s also raised over a million dollars for the Special Olympics, plus her work in raising money for those living with cancer. All of this, while continuing to blaze a trail for more women’s basketball players to follow.
“You can’t possibly achieve something like this on your own,” Antonelli said. “It’s just impossible to do.”
Not only was her banner unveiled, but the Wolfpack marched on to an 83-67 win over the Pitt Panthers to advance to 13-4 overall and 5-1 in conference play. The Pack were lethal from beyond the three point line, going 13-25 from deep.
Senior Aziaha James overcame early foul trouble to lead the Pack in scoring with 22 points.
Senior Madison Hayes finished with a double-double, 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Saniya Rivers and Zoe Brooks contributed 15 and 14 points respectively.
Source: wralsportsfan.com