MELISSA SMITH '90
CLASS of 2004 INDUCTEE
The day Melissa Smith stepped foot on the Clarkson University campus she gave instant credibility to the Golden Knights’ Women’s Basketball team. An All-American and an All-New York State All-Star in high school, Smith arrived in Potsdam in the fall of 1986 after leading Morrisville-Eaton H.S. to the NYS Championship in 1985. Smith, along with fellow 2004 Clarkson Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Beth Bacon, formed the foundation for the most successful women’s basketball teams ever at the University.
Prior to Smith joining the Green and Gold, Clarkson had compiled just 50 win since the inception of the program in 1975. When the Morrisville, NY native left in the spring of 1990, the Knights had amassed an 89-23 overall record during her four-year career, participated in three ECAC Upstate NY Playoffs, three NYS Championship Tournaments and reached the NCAA Division III Final Four.
A 5-10, forward, who played with grace and speed, Smith led Clarkson in scoring and rebounding in each of her four seasons and graduated as the Knights’ most prolific scorer and rebounder. Smith’s turn-around jump shot in the paint was deadly, her swiftness on the fast break deceiving and her effectiveness under the boards excellent. Through 105 games from 1986-1990, she averaged 15 points and 7.8 boards per game, accumulating 1,578 points and 817 rebounds.
During Clarkson’s thrilling season of 1988-89, Smith dominated on the court for head coach Brian Chafin’s squad, leading the Knights to a school-record 26-7 overall record, the Independent College Athletic Conference (ICAC) title with a 10-2 league mark, and its first appearance ever in the NCAA Tournament. Smith posted a school-record 520 points and 284 rebounds that winter as the Green and Gold concluded their best season ever with a showing in the Final Four, held in Danville, KY. The Knights advanced to the Division III Championship tournament after a stunning upset over an undefeated Clark University team before an overflowing crowd at Alumni Gym. Smith led the way against the Cougars with a game-high 25 points and 15 rebounds to help snap Clark’s 35-game winning streak.
Clarkson’s great team success led to numerous individual honors for Smith. She was named a three-time ECAC All-Star, earned All NYS and Independent College Athletic Conference (ICAC) accolades twice, chosen for the 1989 NCAA East Regional All-Star team, honored as the 1990 ICAC Player of the Year, and was selected as an AWSF All-America.
Melissa Smith accepts her Athletic Hall of Fame plaque from Clarkson AD Sean T. Frazier
