Basketball trailblazer Lusia Harris dies at 66

Lusia Harris, considered to be one of the greatest women's college basketball players of all time, has passed away, her family announced. She was 66.   

"We are deeply saddened to share the news that our angel, matriarch, sister, mother, grandmother, Olympic medalist, The Queen of Basketball, Lusia Harris has passed away unexpectedly today in Mississippi," Harris' family said in a statement. 

USA Basketball mourns the loss of The Queen of Basketball, Lusia Harris.

Lusia was a 1976 Olympic silver medalist, scored the first points in Olympic women's basketball history & became the first Black woman inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in 1992. pic.twitter.com/ISrRjIqM3x

— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) January 19, 2022

Lusia Harris aka Lucy won three national championships at Delta State and scored the first points in Olympic women's basketball history in the 1970s.

The basketball trailblazer still holds Delta State career records for points (2,891) and rebounds (1,662). She averaged 25.9 points, shooting 63% from the field, and 14.5 rebounds per game. 

Lucy was a native of Minter City, Mississippi, and led Delta State to three consecutive AIAW national titles (1975, 1976, and 1977).  

The 6-foot-3 post player was named MVP of the tournament during each of the wins and was also a three-time Kodak All-American.

She debuted in the 1976 Olympics and the US team won the silver medal with Harris as its leading scorer and rebounder.

Harris was also the first Black woman inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, in 1992.

She was also featured in a 2021 short film titled "The Queen of Basketball" that detailed her career.