DAYTON, Ohio — Four former University of Dayton athletes will be inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame Saturday including two women's basketball players that were quite the dynamic duo.
What You Need To Know
- Four former Flyers will be inducted in this year's class of the University of Dayton's Athletic Hall of Fame
- Ally Malott and Andrea Hoover, legendary basketball players for UD, will be two of them
- The duo helped lead their team to four straight NCAA tournament appearances, including an Elite Eight run their senior year
- Both say they're honored for the recognition and glad to be inducted together
Just seven years ago, Andrea Hoover and Ally Malott weren’t sitting in the stands at UD Arena — they were on the floor.
The duo graduated in 2015 and was part of some of the most historic runs by the UD women’s basketball team.
“Anything in life you want to leave better than you found it," Malott said. "And it was already in a great place and hopefully we could continue to build on that.”
Malott was the first McDonald’s All-American recruit to commit to the Dayton's women’s basketball team.
She along with Hoover were the only two in their class on the team, so it’s only fitting they join the hall of fame at the same time.
“I’m very thankful that I’m being inducted at the same time as Ally just because we did everything together, were roommates for four years and I don’t know if I would have gotten through it all without her," Hoover said.
“We got really lucky and we just got along super, super well from the get-go," Malott said. "I thought we played pretty well together on the court as well. It’s awesome to have someone to share ups and downs with who’s going through the exact same thing.”
The two led their team to four straight NCAA tournament appearances, including an Elite Eight run their senior year. But they say the games aren’t always what stick out.
“Everyone asks me like 'do you remember this game?' Or 'how many points did you score that one game?'" Malott said. "And you just remember the people that you shared it with.”
For Hoover and Malott, being inducted into the hall of fame is an honor and something they never imagined.
“Honestly, if you would have told me that I would be inducted into the UD Hall of Fame when I was being recruited or my freshman year, I would have said you’re crazy," Hoover said.
Hoover and Malott will be joined by Mike Harmeyer, a football player in the 80s, as well as Mike Tucker, a legendary women’s soccer coach. The four will be inducted during halftime of the Dayton men’s basketball game Saturday afternoon.
