KINGSTON, R.I. – Dayna Smith, the Rebecca Quinn Morgan '60 Head Coach of Women's Basketball at Cornell University, has been named to the newest class of inductees for the University of Rhode Island Athletics Hall of Fame, as was announced this week by the university. Smith will be inducted along with five other Rhody greats, most notable among them is 10-year NBA veteran Cuttino Mobley.

 

Smith was one of the top point guards in Atlantic 10 history while starring for Rhode Island from 1992-96. One of just 11 players at the NCAA Division I level to record more than 1,000 points and 750 assists, Smith was a key component of the Rams' run to the 1996 NCAA Tournament. That season, the Pittsburgh native dished out 233 assists and helped guide URI to a 21-8 mark and the A-10 East regular season title. She finished her career with 1,174 points, good for ninth on Rhody's all-time scoring list, and 184 3-point field goals, which ranks second all-time in the URI record book.

 

Smith recently made a return to the NCAA Tournament as the head coach of the Big Red, guiding Cornell to its first Ivy League title as well as the first 20-win season in program history.

 

“It is an absolute honor to be elected to the URI Athletic Hall of Fame,” said Smith. “The experiences I had at URI have meant a lot to me and have helped me develop into the person and coach that I am today. I had terrific teammates and coaches who shared a common goal of building the program into a winner. There have been many great athletes to play at URI and to be included with them is humbling. I am very grateful for this opportunity.”

 

The full slate of Hall of Fame events kicks off on Friday, Feb. 13, with an induction ceremony and dinner held at Quidnessett Country Club in North Kingstown, R.I. The following afternoon, the Hall of Fame class will be honored at halftime of the men's basketball game versus Saint Louis.