MCLA's McGovern honored with Westfield State Hall of Fame induction

Courtesy of Westfield Sports Information

Westfield, MA- MCLA Head Women's Basketball Coach, Holly McGovern, will be enshrined into the Westfield State College athletic Hall of Fame.  The ceremony will be held on alumni weekend on October 22nd.  McGovern (’99) is considered one of the Westfield State’s finest two-sport athletes. McGovern was a four-year standout in both basketball and soccer for the Owls, earning numerous postseason accolades and rewriting the record books. 

McGovern’s leadership skills have carried over into the coaching profession. She has been the head coach at MCLA for the past five seasons, guiding the Trailblazers to its first MASCAC tournament championship, its first NCAA Tournament berth, and the most victories and best record (18-10) in school history.

"I would like to thank the Hall of Fame committee for my selection, and those who were involved in the nomination process. It is truly an honor to be inducted as a member of the Westfield State Hall of Fame. I had the priviledge of being coached by some of the best coaches in New England, as well as playing alongside very talented teammates," McGovern commented on her selection.

On the hardcourt, she earned both regional and national acclaim. McGovern was a Division III News All-America fifth team selection in 1999 and an All-America honorable mention pick in 1998. She was selected to the All-Northeast Region second team in 1999 and was All-New England in 1997 and 1999. McGovern was a three-time all-conference first-team pick and the conference rookie of the year and an all-conference second team selection in 1996.

In soccer she was a four-time all-conference first-team selection and the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletics Conference (MASCAC) player of the year in 1996 and 1997. She participated in the New England All-Star game following her senior season.

The Westfield women’s basketball team posted an aggregate record of 80-30 during her four-year career as starting point guard. The Owls won two MASCAC championships and participated in one NCAA Tournament and two ECAC Tournaments.

McGovern started in 104 of 108 games played and scored 1,098 career points. She holds school career records for assists (626), steals (313), and free throw shooting percentage (.773), and single season records for assists (198) and free throw shooting percentage (.871) when she made 81 of 93 attempts her freshman year.

McGovern ranks third on the Westfield women’s soccer all-time scoring charts with 105 points despite missing 10 games because of injuries. She ranks second with 39 points scored in a season and third on the all-time list in both goals scored (38) and assists (29)..

During her sophomore season she led the Owl booters to their first MASCAC regular season championship and a 15-4 record.

McGovern also excelled on high school level as she was a 1,000-point scorer in basketball and the conference player of year in soccer and basketball during senior year at Saugerties (N.Y.) High School.

McGovern - a sociology major at Westfield - was as an assistant basketball coach at her alma mater for three seasons and helped the Owls qualify for an ECAC tournament berth in 2003. She was also an assistant women’s soccer coach for the Owls.