News

The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Board of Directors announces
the 2024 Women’s Induction Class to be honored on Saturday, April 27, 2024.

Indiana Basketball HOF announces 22^nd Women’s Induction Class

(NEW CASTLE) – Women’s basketball in Indiana has always seen the top players in the nation, historically.  The 2024 Induction class of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame is no different.  The board of directors of the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame proudly announces their 2024 women’s induction class, to be honored at the 22^nd Women’s Awards Banquet on Saturday, April 27, 2024.

Marilyn Coddens, a 1968 graduate of South Bend LaSalle, then graduated from IU South Bend in 1976 with a Bachelors in Education and then a Masters in Education in 1978.  Coddens was the Head Coach at South Bend Washington from 1994-2008 where she amassed 5 conference, 6 sectional, 3 regional, 2 State Runner-Ups, and the 2006-07 State Championship.  She had a winning percentage at South Bend Washington of 77%, and was an Assistant Coach on the 2005 McDonald’s All-American Games.  Coddens was the IBCA District Coach of the Year four times during her tenure and was a math teacher for South Bend Schools from 1976-2013.

Kristina (Divjak) Eschmeyer, graduated from Lake Central in 1995, where she led her teams, her sophomore, junior and senior seasons to a combined record of 70-7, being crowned IHSAA State Champions her junior season.  Her senior season accolades include Hall of Fame Classic MVP, Nike All American, Parade All American 3^rd Team, USA Today’s Top 25 Players In the nation, and an Indiana All-Star.  Following Lake Central, Eschmeyer went to Northwestern where her career was highlighted by Consensus All-Big Ten her junior season while leading the Big Ten in scoring.  Her career was unfortunately cut short with career ending surgery going into her senior season.  Kristina is currently a writer, earning acceptance to several prestigious writing programs and workshops. 

Lisa (Winter) Finn, was a 1996 Huntington North graduate, where her junior season, the Vikings were State Champions and she was named Final Four MVP and AP All-State.  Her senior season was capped off with a 25-1 record, while earning Miss Basketball, AP All-State, and named to the Indiana All-Star Team.  She was a member of the 2021 Silver Anniversary Team; she scored 1,235 points and grabbed 419 rebounds during her career at Huntington North.  Finn went to Ball State, later transferring to Valparaiso where she received a masters in education in 2001.  While playing at Valparaiso, she dished out 143 assists, which is 6^th in a single season in Valparaiso history.  Finn is currently the Head Coach at Cathedral High School, and has been since 2020.

Terrilyn Johnson, was a 1988 Gary Lew Wallace graduate, and was a member of the 2013 Silver Anniversary Team.  Johnson’s Lew Wallace career was highlighted by being named Post Tribue 1^st Team and Parade All-American 3^rd Team while earning team MVP.  Following high school, Johnson went to Kansas where she scored a career 734 points in her sophomore, junior, and senior seasons combined.  Johnson is 6^th all time for single game steals at Kansas, was the team MVP her junior year, and team Captain her senior season.  Johnson played in the WBA in 1993 and 1994.  Johnson is currently a Supply Chain Analyst and President of the Gary Youth Basketball League.

Joe Lentz, graduated from Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter in 1969, later IUPUI with a bachelors in Health and Physical Education, and a masters from Butler in 1975.  Lentz spent time as an assistant coach at multiple schools for 21 years including Ritter, Plainfield and Center Grove before earning the Head Coaching Position for 15 years at Center Grove and 9 at Ben Davis.  Lentz’s career coaching record of 394-169 earned him awards such as, IndyStar Coach of the Year in 1996, 1997, and 2007, All-Metro South Coach of the Year, and coached the 1997 North/South All-Star Game and was the 1998 Indiana All-Star Head Coach.  Topping off Lentz’s coaching career was winning the 1996 State Championship at Center Grove.

Rick Marshall, graduated from Winchester in 1974, and University of Indianapolis in 1979 and Indiana State in 1985.  Marshall coached for 20 years at North Knox, where he compiled a 366-100 record including 16 conference titles, IBCA District Coach of the Year, Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Coach of the Year (multiple times), and was the 1999 Indiana Junior All-Stars Head Coach.  Marshall coached at Vincennes Rivet from 2017-2022 where he had a record of 105-26 earning 2 State Runner-Ups and the 2018 and 2019 Evansville Courier Girls Coach of the Year.  Marshall has a career winning percentage of 79%, earning 471 wins during his career.

Jill (Morton) McFarling, a 1996 North Decatur graduate, was a member of the 2021 Silver Anniversary team.  She was a 1996 Indiana All-Star, Gatorade Player of the Year, Wendy’s High School Heisman Nominee and North South All-Star.  She was a Street and Smith All American both her junior and senior seasons where she averaged 27.3 points her senior season.  She scored a career 1,656 points at North Decatur and had 324 rebounds, 381 assists and 316 steals.  McFarling went to Louisville where in 112 games scored 1,402 points.  She was the first Cardinal to be drafted in the WNBA and 1^st to be an All-American.  She holds the Louisville season 3-pt FG percentage record at 53.5%.  McFarling is currently a technical specialist, and has been since 2013.

Melinda Miles¸ a 1977 graduate of Bloomfield, along with sister Melissa, helped lead Bloomfield to earn a State Finalist spot, losing to East Chicago Roosevelt.  Miles scored a career 1,045 points, and Bloomfield went undefeated for all four regular seasons of her career.  Miles was named to the Hoosier Basketball Magazine Girls’ All-State Team.  Melinda went to the United States Military Academy where her and her sister graduated with a Bachelors in Engineering and were the first set of female twins to graduate, and the second class of women in West Point history.  After graduation, Melinda earned the rank of Captain in the 32^nd Air Defense Artillery.  Melinda worked for Coca-Cola before retiring in 2020.

Melissa Miles, a 1977 graduate of Bloomfield, along with sister Melinda, helped lead Bloomfield to earn a State Finalist spot, losing to East Chicago Roosevelt.  Miles scored a career 733 points, and Bloomfield went undefeated for all four regular seasons of her career.  Miles was named to the Indiana All-Star team along with Hoosier Basketball Magazine Girls’ All-State. Melinda went to the United States Military Academy where her and her sister graduated with a Bachelors in Engineering and were the first set of female twins to graduate, and the second class of women in West Point history.  After graduation, Melissa earned the rank of Captain as a Company Commander.  Melissa retired in 2021 but since 2017 has created and led a nonprofit organization “Friends of Army Women’s Basketball”.

Lisa Williams Burgess, graduated from Carmel in 1995, where her senior season she led the Greyhounds to a State Runner-Up finish.  Burgess was named Hamilton County Player of the Year, Indiana All-Star, Indianapolis Metro Player of the Year, and Indianapolis News Player of the Year.  In addition to basketball, she was 2^nd team All-State volleyball in 1994 and a 4 year state track finalist in the 4×400 and 3 year state track finalist in the 800.  Burgess went to South Carolina where she scored almost 1,100 points while earning her numerous accolades as a member of their program including Academic Honor Roll and multiple all tourney teams.  Burgess is currently a Relationship Manager for Comerica. 

Jeannette Yeoman Mosher, a 1986 graduate of West Lafayette Harrison.  Mosher led the Raiders as team MVP her junior year and senior years along with scoring 646 points her senior season and being named an Indiana All-Star.  Jeannette was a member of the 2011 Silver Anniversary Team.  Mosher then went to St. Joseph’s where her senior season was capped off by being named 1^st Team All-American and GLVC Player of the Year.  She scored 2,280 points at St. Joseph’s and held 27 school records upon graduation.  Jeanette also has a career coaching record of 440-211 with stints at Alfred University, State University of New York at Cortland, and University of Texas at Tyler. 

Nan Tomshack Tulchinsky is the recipient of the 2024 Indiana Fever Silver Medal Award for contributions to Indiana basketball other than as an Indiana high school player or Indiana high school coach. Nan is a 1960 graduate of St. John’s Michigan.  Nan worked for 43 years at South Bend Community School Corporation, and is inducted into the South Bend Hall of Fame.  Nan became a HS basketball official, joining St. Joseph Valley Referee Association as the first female official.  She refereed public school leagues, the ICCL, Special Olympics and the International Special Olympics when it was held at Notre Dame.  Tulchinksy was the official scorer for both Notre Dame Women’s and Men’s basketball for 30 years, and was the Athletic Director at LaSalle High School for four years.  Nan was the first woman to serve at Director of Athletics for South Bend Schools – serving for 5 years (2002-2007).

The Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame’s 22^nd Women’s Awards Banquet is planned for Saturday, April 27, 2024.  The day’s events will include a reception at the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame Museum in New Castle that afternoon with a banquet that evening at the Primo Banquet Hall in Indianapolis.

Reservations will soon be available online or through mail order in early 2024.  Call the Hall at 765-529-1891, visit www.hoopshall.com or email [email protected] for more information.

###

MEDIA: For further information or assistance on inductees, contact Indiana Basketball HOF Assistant Director Kayla Kessler ([email protected]) or Executive Director Matt Martin ([email protected]) at (765) 529-1891.