Cindy Tucker Anderson
1979-1983
Cindy Tucker Anderson came to Freed-Hardeman in 1979 from Linden, Tenn,, having been an All-District and All-Regional selection at Perry County High School. She joined the Lady Lions when Freed-Hardeman was re-instating women’s basketball in the intercollegiate program. She became a powerful fore and steadying influence in the team’s early years. Her all-around play led the Lady Lions to the NAIA District 24 playoffs in 1981 and 1982. On several nights Cindy led the team in scoring, rebounding and assists. FHU Coach Dewdrop Rowlett labeled her the “blue collar” player of the team. She was the team captain her junior and senior years and was chosen the Senior Athlete of the Year by the yearbook staff.
In addition to her outstanding career on the court, she was an outstanding student. She had the team’s best academic average all four years of her college career.
After receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in accounting, Cindy became a certified public accountant in 1984. She and her husband, James, have three children: Tucker, Conner and McKenzie. She describes herself as a full-time mom and a part-time accountant with Kraft, CPAs in Nashville. She is a member of the Tennessee Society of CPA’s. The family lives in Franklin, Tenn.
Vanassa Chism Branch
1979-1981
Vanassa Chism Branch twice made the AA All-Tournament Team at Bolivar Central High School, Boliver, Tenn. She continued her basketball career at Jackson State Community College where she was named to the Tennessee Junior College Athletic Association’s All-Western Division Team.
When Freed-Hardeman resumed women’s basketball at the intercollegiate level in 1980, she was recruited by Coach Dew Drop Rowlett. That year she was the team’s most valuable player. She was also named to the VSAC All-Western Division Team and VSAC All-Conference Team.
During her senior year, she repeated all of the accomplishments of her junior year and added NAIA All-District Team to her list of honors. She was also named FHC’s Senior Athlete of the Year. In addition, she was named to Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.
Vanassa and her husband Cleaver Branch live in Bolivar Tenn. She is a social services director at Hardeman County Developmental Services.
Qiana Elam
1996-2000
Qiana Elam began her college career at Freed-Hardeman University in 1996. She made an immediate impact on the team, scoring 509 points and pulling down 270 rebounds her freshman year. During her four years as a Lady Lion, she became the all-time leading scorer and rebounder. She currently holds the FHU women’s school record for most points in a game (46), in a season (781), and career (2,762). She also holds the school record for most rebounds in a game (24), in a season (781), and career (1,529).
Elam was named a Kodak All-American as a senior, a two-time NAIA All-American as a junior and senior, a two time TranSouth Player-of-the-Year, and received TranSouth All-Conference honors all but one year.
During Qiana’s career at FHU, the Lady Lions made four consecutive trips to the NAIA National Tournament, including a Final Four appearance during the 1998-1999 season.
Qiana Elam graduated from Freed-Hardeman University in 2000 with a degree in Computer Science. After graduation, she accepted a position with the Dell Computer Company, and is now employed at JP Morgan Chase Bank in Arlington, Texas.
Janice Wood Griggs
1980-1984
Janice Wood Griggs came to Freed-Hardeman in 1980 from Hot Springs Ark. High School. As a Lady Lion, she became the second highest scorer in the team’s history with 1,568 career points. For three consecutive years, 1982, ’83, ’84, she was the team’s leading scorer with 19.7 in 1981-82, 19.2 in 1982-83 and 17.6 in 1983-84. She also ranks second in career scoring average with 17.6.
In the 1982-83 season, she was the leading scorer and leading free throw shooter in the Western Division of the Volunteer State Athletic Conference. She led both divisions in rebounding. She was named to the All-VSAC Team and the All-District 24 Team.
Having graduated from Freed-Hardeman with a B.S. in mathematics, Janice received an M.S.E. from Harding University in 1986. A former air traffic controller, she and her husband, Keith Griggs, have two children, Trevor and Courtney. The family lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Mayme Higginbottom Lane
Mayme Higginbottom Lane cam to Freed-Hardeman from Selmer High School where she had been an outstanding basketball player. Recruited by Coach Laurent Johnson, she joined the championship squad of 1932, winners of the Mississippi Valley Conference and conference tournament. This team also boasted a perfect season.
Mayme was described by a teammate as “a skilled basketball player who was a good outside shooter as well as from inside.”
After leaving FHC, Mayme played on Cain Sloan’s city championship team as well as on their softball team. She later taught and coached in the McNairy County, Tenn., schools.
She married A.L. Lane and they have one son, Michael Lane.
Renee Hensley Paugh
1980-1984
Renee Hensley Paugh excelled in both tennis and basketball at Freed-Hardeman. Playing at the number two singles position, she was twice the Volunteer State Athletic Conferecne champion; the remaining two years she was the runner-up. Her doubles team, also at the number two slot, won the conference title three consecutive years. In her senior year, the doubles team moved to the number one position and again won the VSAC championship.
Renee’s 1,764 career points make her the all-time scoring leader for the Lady Lion basketball teams. She is also listed among the leaders of the season scoring averages. In addition, she ranks fifth in successful free throw attempts with 103 in a season. In 1983, she averaged 15.7., in 1982, 18.3; and in 1984, 15.5. In 1983, she was made a member for the All-VSAC Team.
Today, Renee and her husband Daniel Paugh live in Elliocott City, Maryland, with their two children, Branden and Megan. Renee continues her involvement with athletics as a basketball official. She is an active NCAA basketball official with four Division I conferences. She also officiates in Divisions II and III. She counts among her officiating highlights calling the 1995 game between the U.S. National Olympic Team and Old Dominion University and refereeing the NCAA Division II East Regionals.
Dew Drop Rowlett
1930-1932
Dew Drop Rowlett could be inducted into the FHC Sports Hall of Fame based on name only, but her accomplishments as an athlete and a coach gave the selection a little more credence.
Rowlett attended FHC from 1930 to ’32 and was named to the Mississippi Valley Conference tournament team in ’30, ’31 and ’32. The latter two years she was also named the Most Valuable Player in the tourney. In ’30 and ‘31her peers at FHC voted her “Best Girl Athlete”.
She attended Murray State University from 1933 to’35 where she played basketball, tennis and softball. Rowlett was captain of the softball team in 1934 while playing three different spots and playing for two basketball teams. Besides the Murray State squad, she played AAU basketball for the Tupelo Redwings in ’34 and ’35. In ’34 she was named to the All-Southern AAU Basketball Squad and participated on the All-American AAU Squad in Wichita, Kan.
In 1936, she began her professional career. Her first job was as a teacher and coach at Murray High School. She stayed there for 30 years teaching and coaching tennis and track and field. In track, she had one state runner-up squad and in tennis her squads won seven regional championships and a second-place state finish.
In 1965, she began her last coaching job with her other alma mater. She coached at FHC until 1981 and in 1980 she was named the Volunteer State Athletic Conference Coach of the year.
Rowlett has received many awards throughout her career for her athletic ability and knowledge. In 1968, she was recognized as one of Kentucky’s Outstanding Women in Sports. In 1981, she was recognized as Founder of Kentucky Women’s Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. These two, along with her induction into FHC’s Sports Hall of Fame, add to the long list of awards she received while playing basketball, tennis and softball.
Dew Drop’s character is as colorful as her name and her placement in this Hall of Fame as the first female inductee is recognition for the things she has done for women’s athletics.
Kara Sanders
1996-2000
Kara (Sanders) Atkins played for the Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions from 1996-2000. During her career, she scored over 30 points four times, on her way to becoming the #3 leading scorer in Lady Lion history with 2,005 points. The 5’6” guard also ranks second in career assists with 542 and third in career three pointers with 300.
Kara received All-Conference honors in ‘97-‘98, ‘98-‘99, and ‘99-‘00. After the 1999-2000 season, she was named an NAIA All-American and was voted to the NAIA All-National Tournament team. She was also named a Dodge/Farm Magazine All-American athlete.
During her career at FHU, Kara helped lead her team to four NAIA National Tournament appearances, including a Final Four finish in 1998-1999.
In 2001, Kara graduated from Freed-Hardeman University with a degree in Social Behavioral Science. After graduation she began teaching at Martin Primary School in Martin, TN and is now a stay at home mother with her two children, Kenady and Baker. She and her husband Beau currently reside in Gleason, TN.
Jennifer Burkeen Showers
1993-1997
After a standout career at Marshall County High School in Benton, KY, Jennifer Burkeen Showers joined the Freed-Hardeman University Lady Lions. She quickly made her mark, averaging 17.4 points and 10.9 rebounds per game as a freshman and earning Tennessee Collegiate Athletic Conference honors.
In 1997, she became the Lady Lions’ all-time leading scorer and rebounder with 1,845 points and 1,183. She continued to earn all-conference honors in the TCAC and, as a Senior was a member of the TranSouth’s All-Conference team. She was also recognized as the team’s Most Valuable Player in 1997.
The 6-foot post player was a member of the university’s first team to be nationally ranked and to advance to the NAIA national tournament. The team advanced to the Sweet Sixteen and ended the season ranked 10th in the nation.
Jennifer and her husband, Mike, live in Decatur, Ala., with their two children, Alyssa and David.
Inducted Nov. 9, 2002
Sue McBride Williams
Sue McBride Williams, a 1929-31 Freed-Hardeman College student, played guard both years for teams that finished second in the Mississippi Valley Conference. (FHC, a junior college, was competing with four year schools.) She was captain of the 1929-31 all-conference teams. She was also a member of the tennis team. In the 1930 Treasure Chest, she was named as on of the school’s best athletes.
Her basketball career had begun in Chalybeate, Miss., where she played four years of high school ball. She was captain of the team during her junior and senior years. Chalybeate High School had a distinguished record, losing only one game during Sue’s four years there.
After graduating from Memphis State University in 1932, she taught and coached winning girls’ basketball teams at Pine Grove High School in Mississippi.
After her marriage to James Williams of Henderson, she taught in the elementary schools of Chester County. Their children, Tommie Jean and Jimmy participated in the athletic programs of Chester County High School and FHC.