Heidelberg Athletics Hall of Fame
Rarely does one basketball game symbolize a career. But for Kathleen Phillips, a snowy November night in Hiram, Ohio, captured the essence of a tremendous career.
Phillips, a Sandusky, Ohio, native, excelled throughout her four-year career as a Student Prince. A dynamic scorer, Phillips averaged 18.5 points per game and sits third on the program’s all-time scoring list with 1,755 points.
As a freshman, she made 16 starts in 23 games, averaging 12.7 points per contest. One year later, as the team’s top scoring option, she poured in 18.5 points a night and earned an All-Ohio Athletic Conference honorable mention.
Even as teams game-planned specifically to stop #23, Phillips grew stronger in her junior campaign. That season, she shot a career-best 41.4% from beyond the arc and averaged 19.2 points. She eclipsed the 1,000-point milestone that January, becoming the 19th player in history to achieve the feat -- a moment she celebrated by presenting the game ball to her father, Gary. At season’s end, she was an All-OAC Second Team honoree despite leading the league in scoring.
By the time her senior season tipped off, things were different. In June, Gary -- a mainstay in the bleachers in Seiberling Gymnasium – had passed away. Her new head coach, Morgan Harrigan, had Gary’s initials embroidered on the collar of her #23 jersey. In her first game without her dad, Phillips was nearly impossible to stop. In a neutral site game at Hiram, Phillips went off for 40 points -- breaking a 30-year old ’Berg single-game record. She was 13-for-20 from the floor and hit 13-of-14 at the line, helping seal an 83-79 victory over Pitt-Greensburg.
After the game, Philips said, “My dad taught me everything about basketball. He means the world to me, and I am dedicating this season to him.”
The 40-point outburst (which also included 10 steals) kicked off one of the finest seasons in program history. On her way to All-OAC First Team and D3hoops.com All-Region accolades, Phillips averaged 22.4 points a game. More importantly, serving as a quiet leader, she helped Heidelberg to a 12-win season -- up from one win as a freshman, and the most by a ‘Berg team since the 2006-07 campaign.
Today, Phillips resides in Lakewood, Ohio, where she works as a service advisor. In her spare time, she enjoys CrossFit and traveling.
