Mercy University Athletics

Stacey Gillespie, Class of 1987, played her scholastic ball at nearby Sacred Heart in Yonkers, where she was a two-sport standout, competing with the women's basketball and softball teams.

Gillespie came to Mercy in 1982, and developed into arguably the women's basketball program's best front line player ever. She was an integral part of the team's success from 1982-1986, playing under fellow inductee, head coach Carol Schachner-Leib, and she is still the program's all-time leading scorer with 1,749 career points and all-time leader in rebounds with 1,617 career boards.

Gillespie made an immediate impact on the court during her rookie campaign, averaging 14.8 points per game and 13.4 rebounds per game. Her efforts as a freshman helped her earn New York Division II All-State honors.

As a sophomore in 1983-84, Gillespie was named the Metropolitan College Basketball Association Division II Player of the Year, averaging 16.7 points per game and 14.3 rebounds per game, which ranked fourth in the nation. That season she was also co-runner up for the New York State Player of the Year award, was an Empire State All-Conference, Hudson Valley Women's Athletic Conference All-Star and New York State Division II All-Star selection.

In 1984-85, she ranked third in the nation in rebounding at 14.7 rebounds per game and also averaged 13.3 points per game. That team went 22-7, including an 11-4 mark in Empire State Conference play and advanced to the NCAA Division II Regional Tournament.

Gillespie capped off her career by posting 12.9 points per game and 15.5 rebounds per game as a senior in 1985-86. She was then recruited by the International Basketball Athletic Association to play one season with a team in Switzerland before returning to Mercy to complete her degree.

Gillespie has since moved south, and currently resides in Duluth, Georgia. She has gone on to give 17 years of service to the United States Postal Service, and currently serves as a mail handler and union official.