By Dylan Vazzano, TTU Sports Information with contributions from the Ohio Valley Conference
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Steeped in a setting appropriately equipped to advertise the word "legend," its only fitting that the Golden Eagle that frequented the bottom of the basket most often will be showcased as such. Cheryl Taylor (1983-87), Tennessee Tech's only 2,500 point scorer (men's or women's), will once again take her place in college hoops lore, representing Golden Eagle basketball in a growing tradition in next month's Ohio Valley Conference Tournament.
A custom only in its third year of existence, the OVC will recognize one men's or women's basketball legend from each of its 12 member institutions, boasting the excellence of the exclusive club throughout the pair of postseason tournaments in Nashville's Municipal Auditorium, March 1-4. Each legend will be honored through signage and announcements during the four-day stay, adding to a backdrop ripe with potential to find the next crop of legends that will be playing for the right to punch their ticket to the NCAA Tournament.
Taylor's distinction as Tech's legend should come as little surprise as the Vauxhall, N.J. native put together a fabled career in purple and gold that makes her one of the most accomplished players in OVC history. A 1997 inductee into the TTU Sports Hall of Fame, Taylor's 2,526 career points is not only the most in Tennessee Tech history, but upon graduation in 1987, her total stood as the league's top mark for 27 years until it was broken in 2014.
A two-time OVC Player of the Year in 1986 and 1987, Taylor led the Golden Eagles in scoring and rebounding in each of her four seasons and was the team's leading shot blocker in three of her four years. Second in program history with 1,532 career-rebounds, Taylor is the Golden Eagle record holder for most double-doubles with 90 in 120 career games.
The 6-foot-3 center averaged 21.1 PPG throughout her illustrious four-year career, highlighted by an eye-popping 25.6 PPG as a senior in 1986-87, a year that saw that Golden Eagles win both the OVC regular season and tournament championship in Hall of Fame coach Bill Worrell's first season at the helm.
This year's group of OVC legends features six male and six female student-athletes. Last year Stephen Kite (1982-86) was recognized as Tech's legend and in 2015 Diane Seng (1996-2000) was featured for the Golden Eagles.
For more information and a list of each school's legend, click here.
