Eastern Michigan Athletics
Celebrating 50 Years of Title IX - Laurie Byrd
11/18/2022 12:02:00 PM | General
Byrd was a four-year member of the then-Hurons women's basketball team
YPSILANTI, Mich. (EMUEagles.com) - To commemorate the 50-year anniversary of the passage of Title IX, Eastern Michigan University Athletics will spotlight both former and current student-athletes and their teams.
Laurie Ann Byrd graduated from EMU in 1984 and was a four-year member of the then-Hurons women's basketball team. As the only player in Eastern women's basketball history to lead the team in scoring and assists in each of her four seasons, Byrd cemented herself in the history books for the Green and White.
Byrd left her mark on the Eastern record books across her four seasons, setting school records in points (1,899), scoring average (19.2 ppg) and field goals made (854). While her points record was passed by former Eagle Tavelyn James (2008-12), her scoring average and field goals made records still stand as tops in EMU history. After her success at EMU, Byrd went on to play professionally in Switzerland, Sweden, Italy, and Spain, as well as returning to America to play in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) for the Detroit Shock in the 1999-200 season.
In Switzerland, she led her team to the 1985-86 championship and was named Most Valuable Player of the Sussie Cup. The next season, in Sweden, she was selected as the league's Most Valuable Player. Byrd also went on to compete in the WBL, WBA and ABL U.S. professional women's basketball leagues.
Her success on the court has led to inductions in the AAU Hall of Fame (1993) and in the Greater Flint Afro-American Hall of Fame. Byrd was inducted into the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame here at EMU just nine years after her graduation in 1993. Byrd remains the only female athlete to have her jersey retired by EMU Athletics. Her No. 4 jersey hangs high above the basketball court inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center.
Laurie Ann Byrd graduated from EMU in 1984 and was a four-year member of the then-Hurons women's basketball team. As the only player in Eastern women's basketball history to lead the team in scoring and assists in each of her four seasons, Byrd cemented herself in the history books for the Green and White.
Byrd left her mark on the Eastern record books across her four seasons, setting school records in points (1,899), scoring average (19.2 ppg) and field goals made (854). While her points record was passed by former Eagle Tavelyn James (2008-12), her scoring average and field goals made records still stand as tops in EMU history. After her success at EMU, Byrd went on to play professionally in Switzerland, Sweden, Italy, and Spain, as well as returning to America to play in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) for the Detroit Shock in the 1999-200 season.
In Switzerland, she led her team to the 1985-86 championship and was named Most Valuable Player of the Sussie Cup. The next season, in Sweden, she was selected as the league's Most Valuable Player. Byrd also went on to compete in the WBL, WBA and ABL U.S. professional women's basketball leagues.
Her success on the court has led to inductions in the AAU Hall of Fame (1993) and in the Greater Flint Afro-American Hall of Fame. Byrd was inducted into the E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame here at EMU just nine years after her graduation in 1993. Byrd remains the only female athlete to have her jersey retired by EMU Athletics. Her No. 4 jersey hangs high above the basketball court inside the George Gervin GameAbove Center.
𝐂𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐁𝐑𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 5⃣0⃣ 𝐘𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐈𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐈𝐗
— Eastern Michigan Athletics (@EMUAthletics) November 18, 2022
To commemorate Title IX's anniversary, EMU Athletics will spotlight former & current student-athletes‼️
Learn about legendary Eagle Laurie Byrd from @EMUWBB ⤵️
Read more📰https://t.co/G1sop41kLa#EMUEagles pic.twitter.com/jBHqeF8coV
Postgame Press Conference: Football vs. LIU
Sunday, September 07
Volleyball Highlights vs. Valparaiso
Saturday, September 06
Volleyball Highlights vs. Purdue Fort Wayne
Friday, September 05
Script Eastern Volleyball Jerseys Reveal
Thursday, September 04