TicketsCINCINNATI – No player has had more influence in the women's basketball program's half-century history than Cheryl Cook. Affectionally known as "Cookie," the Indianapolis native is the only one to have her number (24) retired and hanging in the Fifth Third Arena rafters.
Cook played at UC from 1981-1985 and was the team's scoring leader in each of her final three seasons and also set nearly every Bearcat record in the process.
Prior to her junior season, she earned a spot on the Pan-American Games team that went on to win the gold medal in 1983.
She finished her junior year as the No. 6 scorer nationally, recording 767 points and averaging 27.4 points per game. She was named the Metro Conference Player of the Year and earned Honorable Mention All-America honors.
She was selected for the Olympic Trials in 1984, but sadly an injury hampered her efforts to earn a spot on the U.S. Team.
As a senior, she bested her No. 1 mark of 767 points by scoring 771 on the season – a mark that still stands in the No. 1 spot in the UC record book. She was also nation's second-leading scorer, averaging 27.5 points per game. She was again named the Metro Conference Player of the Year and garnered Second-Team All-America honors.
She closed her career No. 7 on the NCAA career scoring list and still owns the title of most career points as a Bearcat with 2,367.
Her mark in the record book goes beyond the total points she scored. She tallied the most assists by a Bearcat at the close of her career with 360, a mark that still sits in the top-10 at No. 6. She also owns the No. 4 spot in steals with 232 and the No. 7 spot in rebounds, finishing her career with 688.
In single games, Cook is tied for second in points in a game, scoring 41 twice. She made 19 field goals in a game which still is in the top spot, made 16 in another game which is tied for second, and made another 15 field goals twice, which is tied for fourth.
Cook is also tied for second in free throws made in a game with 14. Her 12-for-12 performance is still the most without a miss in UC history. Cook also has a 20-rebound game to her credit.
She was inducted into the James P. Kelly UC Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995 and was also inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.
Cook played at UC from 1981-1985 and was the team's scoring leader in each of her final three seasons and also set nearly every Bearcat record in the process.
Prior to her junior season, she earned a spot on the Pan-American Games team that went on to win the gold medal in 1983.
She finished her junior year as the No. 6 scorer nationally, recording 767 points and averaging 27.4 points per game. She was named the Metro Conference Player of the Year and earned Honorable Mention All-America honors.
She was selected for the Olympic Trials in 1984, but sadly an injury hampered her efforts to earn a spot on the U.S. Team.
As a senior, she bested her No. 1 mark of 767 points by scoring 771 on the season – a mark that still stands in the No. 1 spot in the UC record book. She was also nation's second-leading scorer, averaging 27.5 points per game. She was again named the Metro Conference Player of the Year and garnered Second-Team All-America honors.
She closed her career No. 7 on the NCAA career scoring list and still owns the title of most career points as a Bearcat with 2,367.
Her mark in the record book goes beyond the total points she scored. She tallied the most assists by a Bearcat at the close of her career with 360, a mark that still sits in the top-10 at No. 6. She also owns the No. 4 spot in steals with 232 and the No. 7 spot in rebounds, finishing her career with 688.
In single games, Cook is tied for second in points in a game, scoring 41 twice. She made 19 field goals in a game which still is in the top spot, made 16 in another game which is tied for second, and made another 15 field goals twice, which is tied for fourth.
Cook is also tied for second in free throws made in a game with 14. Her 12-for-12 performance is still the most without a miss in UC history. Cook also has a 20-rebound game to her credit.
She was inducted into the James P. Kelly UC Athletics Hall of Fame in 1995 and was also inducted into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2010.
50 YEARS CELEBRATION
Saturday, February 19, the athletics department will host a celebration event tied in with the Bearcats' women's basketball game against the ECU Pirates at 2 p.m. Former players, coaches, and staff will join us in Cincinnati to remember and honor the successes of the past and present and look ahead to the future.
For tickets to the game, you can call the ticket office at 1-877-CATS-TIX or visit the website here.
FOLLOW THE BEARCATS
For all the latest information on Cincinnati women's basketball, please visit GoBEARCATS.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow Cincinnati WBB (@GoBearcatsWBB) and Coach Michelle Clark-Heard (@Coachheard) on Twitter. You can also follow the team on Facebook and Instagram.