75 Greatest Female Athletes | "Made in the PSAC"
LOCK HAVEN, Pa. – The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, celebrating its 75
th anniversary season in 2025-26, continues the process of honoring 300 of its most prominent contributors throughout the month of September.
The second grouping so honored are the PSAC's 75 Greatest Female Athletes, recognizing former female student-athletes that had exceptional athletic careers during or after their participation in the PSAC.
"While the path for women in college athletics was not always paved equally, the women of the PSAC have more than made their mark," said Steve Murray, PSAC Commissioner. "They've redefined what's possible. From the early trailblazers to today's champions, these 75 greatest female athletes represent courage, excellence, and the relentless pursuit of opportunity. Their achievements speak not only to talent, but to the progress Title IX helped make possible and the power of sport to transform lives."
The PSAC was founded on March 11, 1951, and comprised 14 institutions as the Pennsylvania State Teachers College Athletic Conference (PSTCAC). Since then, it has grown into one of the largest conferences in the NCAA across all three divisions.
The first 75 honorees were designated
"Made in the PSAC", a group that recognizes former student-athletes that have gone on to influential careers after graduation (which could be in the sports industry, but not necessarily as a professional athlete.)
The 75
th anniversary celebration continues with the release of the 75 Greatest Male Athletes on September 17 and "Distinguished Keystones" on September 24.
"Any time you attempt to honor the greatest over 75 years, you know you're going to face tough choices," said Murray. "The truth is, no list can ever capture everyone who's made a difference. For every name recognized, there's another who could just as easily be included. This process was thorough, heartfelt, and rooted in fairness, even if it couldn't be perfect. What matters most is that we celebrate the legacy of the PSAC and the extraordinary people who helped shape it. That legacy lives in far more than 75 names—it lives in the pride of every person who's ever been part of this conference."
All 300 honorees were selected through a process that included nominations from institutions and selections by committee. The committee was comprised of institutional and PSAC staff.
The Lock Haven honorees are highlighted below and the full list can be found in the link above.
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PSAC 75th Anniversary: 75 Greatest Female Athletes
Georgina Adams - Donnelly - Lock Haven, Women's Soccer, 1995-99
1x All-American, led her team to the program's first PSAC title and first NCAA tournament berth
Kristin Erb – Lock Haven, Softball, 2005-09
2x NCAA DII Woman of the Year, 4x All-American, led LHU to National Championships in 2006 and '09, has six NCAA records, six PSAC records and 10 school records
Cherry Li – Lock Haven, Volleyball, 2002-06
3x All-American, named 2006 Co-National Player of the Year, led nation in hitting percentage during the 2003, 2004 and 2006 seasons, 2x PSAC Player of the Year, 4x All-PSAC selection, PSAC West Freshman of the Year
Tina Martin – Lock Haven, Women's Basketball, 1982-86
Holds the school record for points with 2,157, All-American in 1985 and 1986, 4x PSAC All-Star,
2x PSAC Player of the Year
Gao Xuan – Lock Haven, Volleyball, 2010-13
7x All-American, 8x All-Atlantic Region, 4x First Team All-PSAC, 4x PSAC Player of the Year
Rose Ann Neff – Lock Haven, Field Hockey, Women's Basketball, Women's Lacrosse, 1969-73
Member of three U.S. Lacrosse Teams, scored 28 goals for 1975 team that completed its tour of Great Britain with perfect record of 13-0
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