Corbetts No. 55 jersey will be displayed in the rafters of Schar Center following the Feb. 16 ceremony.
Elon University Director of Athletics Dave Blank has announced Elon will retire and formally display the jersey of women’s basketball great Venessa Corbett in a ceremony on Sunday, Feb. 16.
“Venessa set the standard for excellence in Elon women’s basketball, and we’re honored to commemorate her accomplishments by retiring her jersey,” Blank said. “Venessa’s countless program records, hard work, humility, and the class with which she carried herself have inspired the generations of Elon student-athletes who followed her. We are honored and humbled to place her jersey in the rafters of Schar Center.”
The ceremony to honor Corbett’s accomplishments will take place before Elon’s 1 p.m. game against the Northeastern Huskies. Fans are encouraged to be in their seats early prior to the game to share in the celebration of Corbett’s career before enjoying Elon’s annual Play4Kay game.
Arguably the most decorated player in Elon women’s basketball history, Corbett was a member of the program from 1977-82 and is the only player in program history to hold five career records including points, points per game, field goals made, field goals attempted and rebounds per game.
One of two players in program history to surpass the 2,000-point mark, her 2,430 career points record has stood for 37 years, standing 410 more than second-place Ali Ford ’13 and 813 more than third-place Nuggie Dixon ’82. In addition to the five top spots, she is second in career rebounds and is just one behind teammate Jeannie Hairston ’82 for the top spot. On top of being the program’s leading scorer, she also holds records in six individual season categories and four single-game categories.
An All-American in 1980 and 1981, Corbett is one of only three women in Elon women’s basketball history to earn All-America honors and is joined only by Susan Yow in 1975 and Lakia Hayes honorable mentions in both 1997 and 1998. A two-time conference champion and a 1982 AIAW district champion, Corbett was named the Carolinas Conference Player of the Year in 1982 and went on to receive the Stein H. Basnight Award as Elon’s outstanding female athlete of the year.
Just 10 years after leaving Elon, Corbett was inducted into the Elon Athletics Hall of Fame in 1992.
For tickets to the game to reserve your seats to the game, please visit elontickets.com, visit the Schar Center Ticket Office or call (336) 278-6750.