SPORTS

Davidson president Carol Quillen and Athletic Director Jim Murphy reveal a framed larger than life replica jersey as Jennifer “Jen” O’Brien looks on. O’Brien’s jersey was retired at halftime of the women’s basketball game.

DAVIDSON, N.C.  — On Saturday, Davidson College and the women’s basketball program honored former standout Jennifer O’Brien Class of 2000, retiring her jersey at halftime of the Wildcats’ Atlantic 10 matchup with Dayton.
 
O’Brien, who was a three-time team captain, became the second player in the program’s history to have their jersey retired, joining Sarah Womack Class of 1980. 

Jen O’Brien (r) jersey now hangs beside Sarah Womack Parham’s (l) in John Belk Arena.

“I want to thank Davidson Athletics for such a prestigious honor,” said O’Brien. “I’m incredibly humbled to have a permanent place in Wildcat history. I am so fortunate to have experienced Davidson as a student-athlete and to have had the opportunity to help grow the women’s basketball program. This recognition would not be possible without the success and talent of the many teammates, coaches, and staff who were a big part of my four-year journey.”
 
O’Brien, who was inducted into the Davidson Athletic Hall of Fame during the 2010-11 season, had an outstanding career and still holds numerous records. At the time of graduating, she was the school’s all-time scoring leader and is now currently third with 1,510 points, behind Laura Murray (Class of 2014, 1,880 pts) and Sophia Aleksandravicius (Class of 2013, 1,878 pts).
 
A first-team All-Southern Conference pick in 1998 and 2000, O’Brien still owns the school’s all-time marks for assists (588) and steals (368), while holding single-game records for steals (11) and assists (13). In addition, she ranks in the top-10 all-time in points per game, field goals made, three-point field goals, three-point field goal percentage, free throws and rebounds.

Jen O’Brien’s father took time to check out his daughter’s statistics on the Hall of Fame giant touch screen in the Harry L. Vance athletic center.

The Middletown, Conn., native, was named to the Southern Conference All-Tournament Team from 1998-2000, guiding the Wildcats to the league’s championship game for the first time in 1999.
 
“We are thrilled to honor Jen’s contributions to our women’s basketball program in such a tangible and well-deserved fashion,” said Athletic Director Jim Murphy. “We are proud of the legacy she created.”
 
She won the Wildcat Award for team MVP honors in 1998 and 2000, and the Rebecca Stimson award in 2000, the college’s most outstanding female athlete award.
 
During her four-year playing career, O’Brien guided Davidson to a record of 61-47 overall.
 
Recently, O’Brien was named to the Atlantic 10 Legends Class of 2015, just the third class the league had inducted. The Legends program was established in 2013 to recognize men’s and women’s basketball student-athletes and coaches who have made a lasting impact on their respective basketball programs and institutions.