The W Athletics Hall of Fame
Dot Easterwood (now Murphy) – a native of Starkville, Miss.- is the most decorated women's basketball player in the long history of the program. She joined the squad in 1970-71 out of Starkville High School and immediately became a key cog in the team's run to the National Invitational Women's Intercollegiate Basketball Tournament (forerunner to the AIAW) national championship that year. The following season (1971-72), Easterwood helped The W to a fourth-place finish in the first-ever AIAW tournament.
At The W, she was the first player to eclipse 1,000 career points scored. Easterwood averaged better than 22.0 points per game for her four-year career at The W.
Easterwood earned a spot on the United States' first-ever women's entry in the World University Games in the summer of 1973 in Moscow. With The W coach Jill Upton at the helm, the USA won a silver medal. While playing for the USA team in 1973, she was not just a teammate, but a roommate, with the soon-to-become legendary Pat Summitt, who was also on the squad.
Easterwood collected numerous all-tournament accolades and national honors during her time in Columbus. Among her awards were a 1971 NIT all-star, 3x All-American (1972, '73, '74) and three MAIAW all-tournament awards. She was recognized as one of the "Outstanding College Athletes in America" in 1974. She also succeeded Upton as head coach for MUW, a position she held from 1977-82.
After leaving The W, Easterwood had another landmark moment for women in athletics. Easterwood was hired by Hinds Junior College as its wide receivers coach in 1984, becoming the first-ever female football coach in JUCO history. She joined her husband, Gene Murphy, on the HJC staff.
Easterwood was also elected to the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1999.
