Pearl Moore
(1957)
Hall of Fame Induction: 2021
Card Shown: 2020-21 Panini
Hall of Fame Signings
Position: G
Height: 5’7″
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Pearl Moore remains the greatest scorer in the history of women’s college basketball. Starring at Francis Marion College, her 4,061 points is a record that has stood for decades and one that may never be broken. Moore was a gifted athlete and a tremendous scorer who went largely unrecognized during her playing days due to the relative anonymity of her small school and the underdeveloped state of women’s professional basketball at the time.
A humble woman of faith, during Pearl’s Hall of Fame speech she said, “First, I’d like to thank God for the talent and the opportunities that he gave me, in basketball and in life. I’ve been truly blessed.” Moore has gone on to bless others with her life and efforts. The Pearl Moore Basketball Center opened in Florence, South Carolina on April 12, 2018. The center includes three full-size basketball courts and serves the youth of Florence with its basketball and volleyball programs.
Awards and Honors
- Pearl was a four-time AIAW Small College All-America player at Francis Marion College from 1976-1979.
- Moore averaged 30.6 points per game (over 127 games) in her four years at Francis Marion and led them into the postseason each year.
- Pearl was a finalist in 1978 for the inaugural Wade Trophy, given annually to the best player in women’s college basketball. The winner of the first Wade Trophy that year was Carol Blazejowski. Other Wade Trophy winners include Hall of Famers Nancy Lieberman, Lynette Woodard, and Cheryl Miller.
- In 1979, Pearl was named the South Carolina AIAW Player of the Year. She also received South Carolina AIAW All-State honors in each of her four seasons.
- Moore was enshrined in the Francis Marion Athletics Hall of Fame in 1992, the South Carolina Athletics Hall of Fame in 2002, the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011, and the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2021.
Points of Interest
- Pearl could shoot from distance. It is amazing that her record of 4,061 points was established before the three-point line was implemented in the women’s game. Who knows how many points she might have ended up with if the three-pointer had been a part of the game during Moore’s career.
- In her final game, Moore scored 60 points against the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, setting a single game AIAW record.
- Playing years before the WNBA began, Pearl’s professional career included time with the New York Stars and St. Louis Streak in the WBL. She was a first round selection of the Stars and an All-Star selection while with the Streak.
- After her playing days ended, Pearl became an assistant coach at Union High School. She and Anne Long, her coach at Wilson High School, led Union to two high school state championships in South Carolina.
- Moore was presented for induction in Springfield by Hall of Fame coach Sylvia Hatchell, her head coach at Francis Marion and later the coach at the University of North Carolina. Hatchell said that Moore would have been a star at any level of women’s college basketball, small school or big university.
Statistics
No statistics page currently available.
Personal Interaction
My son Joshua and I had the opportunity to attend the Class of 2021 Hall of Fame announcement at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts. Pearl Moore was announced as a Hall of Famer and was present at the event. Unfortunately, at the time I did not know much about her career and so my son and I looked for opportunities to meet some of the more familiar players like Paul Pierce, Chris Bosh, and Chris Webber.
Pearl Moore was in the same room and available to talk to. I regret not taking the initiative to go over, meet her, and congratulate her on her upcoming induction into the Hall of Fame. Lesson learned not to miss those rare opportunities when they present themselves.
Autographed Pearl Moore Cards
Left: Custom Cut Signature Card
Right: Signed Index Card