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Hall of Fame

Denise Lerch Brace

  • Class
  • Induction
    1991
  • Sport(s)

Class of 1982
 Sports: Basketball, Volleyball,Lacrosse
Jersey: #21/12 

Athletic Accomplishments:

Denise played basketball all four years, volleyballher sophomore and junior years, and lacrosse her junior and senioryears. She was the third woman to be inducted into theSchool’s 1,000 Point Club. When she graduated, Denise heldthe following school re­cords for women’s basketball:most points in a game (35); most rebounds in a game (25); mostblocked shots in a game (6); and most steals in a game (8).

Basketball Highlights:

During the 1978-1979 season, Denise was named theteam’s defensive player of the year. Her coach, Jamie Hickey,nicknamed her “Spiderwoman” at their awards banquetbe­cause of her defensive skills. At the end of the 1980-81season she was named the team’s MVP. Her senior year,1981-82, she was named team’s MVP for the second consecutiveyear, the St. Mary’s Female Athlete of the Year, and the St.Mary’s Academic Athlete of the Year.

Most Memorable Sports Experience at St.Mary’s:

“Contrary to what one might believe, my most memorablesports experience at SMC was not my senior year when I received theMVP award for Basketball, the Female Athlete of the Year Award, andthe Academic Athlete of the Year Award. Rather, it was when I hadmy nose broken by an illegal stick check wheeled by a men’slacrosse player (who shall remain nameless) during a‘fun’ Powder Puff game. Of course, it was the day of aformal dance, and I sported two black eyes and a bent nose whilstall dressed up for the gala event.”

Biggest Rivals While at St. Mary’s:

“One of the basketball team’s biggest rivals wasCatholic University. A former high school teammate of mine playedfor them and we had a fun time playing against each other. Onenotable lacrosse rival was Loyola University, where we played ontop of a building on Astroturf...needless to say, when the ballwent out of bounds, it really went out!”

Involvement in Sports Today:

“Basketball is my favorite sport, and I still play weeklyfrom October-June at the recre­ational level. I also playlacrosse in a women’s summer league. I used to playvolleyball in a co-ed recreational league, but the league foldedand there are currently no local venues for it. I’m alsoinvolved in many other individual sports such as tennis, Frisbeegolf, golf, biking, kayaking, jogging, and swimming."

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