St. John's University Athletics
Women’s Basketball to Honor Sue Bretthauer and Dorothy “Dottie” Pace Giordano as Pioneers of the Game
11/27/2023 2:57:00 PM | Women's Basketball
The pair will be honored on Dec. 10 during the Red Storm’s contest against URI
QUEENS, N.Y.– The St. John's women's basketball program will honor two legends Sue Bretthauer and Dorothy "Dottie" Pace Giordano as the "Pioneers of the Game" on Dec. 10 at 2 p.m.
The Pioneers of the Game award was established last year to honor individuals who helped shape the women's basketball program and whose contributions have left a lasting impact in paving the way for future successes.
The pair of St. John's Athletics Hall of Famers will be honored with an on-court ceremony during the contest against URI at Carnesecca Arena.
Bretthauer was an integral member of the first women's basketball teams at St. John's. She starred in Queens from 1974-78 and became the first player to reach the 1,000-career point mark.
During her freshman season, she burst onto the scene and averaged 19.0 points per game, which still ranks fifth all-time. Bretthauer was named the team's MVP and earned the same honor at the New York State Tournament for the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (NYSAIAW).
During her sophomore season, Bretthauer set the program's all-time record for most steals in a single season tallying 173. On Feb. 17, 1976, she recorded 11 steals in a win over Manhattanville, the highest single-game mark in St. John's history.
In 1976-77, she led St. John's to its first-ever NYSAIAW title leading the squad to a decisive win over Long Island, 77-55, on March 5, 1977. For the third straight season, she led the team in scoring averaging 14.5 points per game.
Bretthauer finished her illustrious tenure with several career marks that still stand in the program's record books. She ranks first in steals (372), fourth in assists (521), fifth in scoring average (15.5) and 12th in career points (1,399).
During the 1987-88 school year, Bretthauer became the second women's basketball player to ever be inducted into the St. John's Athletics Hall of Fame.
Giordano played during the same era from 1974-78. She was the first-ever women's basketball player to ever be awarded an athletic scholarship at St. John's.
She made an instant impact averaging 13.7 points per game during the program's inaugural season in 1974-75.
The following year, she tallied a career-best scoring average posting 14.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per contest.
During her junior campaign, she earned the Jimmy Murphy Memorial Trophy given to the MVP of the St. John's against St. Francis (N.Y.) game. Later that year, she helped guide the team to an NYSAIAW Championship.
Giordano followed Bretthauer as the second player to ever amass over 1,000 career points. She finished her career in Queens with 1,043 points and currently ranks 28th on the all-time scoring list. Giordano was inducted into the St. John's Hall of Fame in 1997.
In their final season in 1977-78, Bretthauer and Giordano were a part of a St. John's team that went 26-5 and posted the school's highest-ever winning percentage at 83.8 percent.
Last year, Carmen Fletcher and Louise McCray were honored as the first-ever "Pioneers of the Game" on Feb. 11.
The Pioneers of the Game award was established last year to honor individuals who helped shape the women's basketball program and whose contributions have left a lasting impact in paving the way for future successes.
The pair of St. John's Athletics Hall of Famers will be honored with an on-court ceremony during the contest against URI at Carnesecca Arena.
Bretthauer was an integral member of the first women's basketball teams at St. John's. She starred in Queens from 1974-78 and became the first player to reach the 1,000-career point mark.
During her freshman season, she burst onto the scene and averaged 19.0 points per game, which still ranks fifth all-time. Bretthauer was named the team's MVP and earned the same honor at the New York State Tournament for the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (NYSAIAW).
During her sophomore season, Bretthauer set the program's all-time record for most steals in a single season tallying 173. On Feb. 17, 1976, she recorded 11 steals in a win over Manhattanville, the highest single-game mark in St. John's history.
In 1976-77, she led St. John's to its first-ever NYSAIAW title leading the squad to a decisive win over Long Island, 77-55, on March 5, 1977. For the third straight season, she led the team in scoring averaging 14.5 points per game.
Bretthauer finished her illustrious tenure with several career marks that still stand in the program's record books. She ranks first in steals (372), fourth in assists (521), fifth in scoring average (15.5) and 12th in career points (1,399).
During the 1987-88 school year, Bretthauer became the second women's basketball player to ever be inducted into the St. John's Athletics Hall of Fame.
Giordano played during the same era from 1974-78. She was the first-ever women's basketball player to ever be awarded an athletic scholarship at St. John's.
She made an instant impact averaging 13.7 points per game during the program's inaugural season in 1974-75.
The following year, she tallied a career-best scoring average posting 14.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per contest.
During her junior campaign, she earned the Jimmy Murphy Memorial Trophy given to the MVP of the St. John's against St. Francis (N.Y.) game. Later that year, she helped guide the team to an NYSAIAW Championship.
Giordano followed Bretthauer as the second player to ever amass over 1,000 career points. She finished her career in Queens with 1,043 points and currently ranks 28th on the all-time scoring list. Giordano was inducted into the St. John's Hall of Fame in 1997.
In their final season in 1977-78, Bretthauer and Giordano were a part of a St. John's team that went 26-5 and posted the school's highest-ever winning percentage at 83.8 percent.
Last year, Carmen Fletcher and Louise McCray were honored as the first-ever "Pioneers of the Game" on Feb. 11.
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