University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown Athletics

        From 1981 through 1985, Terry (Solema) Woods was one of the key components in helping the Pitt-Johnstown women’s basketball program transition from a regional power into a national power.  Ms. (Solema) Woods helped guide the Lady Cats to a Great Lakes Regional Championship in 1984-85 and the No.1 ranking in NCAA Division III on her way to earning American Women’s Sports Federation (AWSF) All-American honors that same season.  In addition, Ms. (Solema) Woods finished her Pitt-Johnstown career ranked in the top-five on both the Lady Cats’ All-Time Scoring and Rebounding Lists.
        After winning a Pennsylvania State Championship at Pittsburgh’s Shaler High School in 1980, Ms. (Solema) Woods brought her basketball talents to Pitt-Johnstown to play for Head Coach Clyde Horner the following year.  As a freshman in 1981-82, the Lady Cats earned their first NCAA Division III Tournament berth.
        Hall of Fame Coach Jodi Gault took over the Lady Cat program in 1982-83, and Ms. (Solema) Woods career continued to flourish.  She finished as Pitt-Johnstown’s second-leading scorer at 13.8 points per game and help guide the Lady Cats to a 24-2 overall record and the No. 1 ranking in the Division III polls.
        The next season, Ms. (Solema) Woods and four other starters returned to lead the Lady Cats to a 25-3 record and a spot in the NCAA Division III Quarterfinals in Chicago.
        As a senior in 1984-85, Ms. (Solema) Woods became Pitt-Johnstown’s fifth 1,000-point scorer and was named Third-Team AWSF All-American after the Lady Cats wrapped-up a 26-3 season and advanced to another NCAA Mid-Atlantic Region Tournament.  She also garnered First-Team All-Mason Dixon Conference and First-Team All-Mid-Atlantic Region honors.
        In her four seasons at Pitt-Johnstown, Ms. (Solema) Woods helped the Lady Cats to an 85-11 overall record and post-season tournament appearances in each season.
        When her Pitt-Johnstown playing career ended, Ms. (Solema) Woods ranked third on the Lady Cat’s all-time scoring list with 1,437 points and second on the all-time rebounding list 847 rebounds.  She currently stands ninth on the scoring list and fifth on the rebounding list.
        Ms. (Solema) Woods joined Coach Gault’s coaching staff for the 1985-86 season while student-teaching and finishing her Bachelor of Science degree.  That season, the Lady Cats transitioned from Division III to Division II and posted a 19-8 record.
        She also coached the Windber High School girls’ basketball team for three seasons and led the Ramblers to the 1989 District Championship the final year.
        In the summer of 1989, Ms. (Solema) Woods moved to Virginia and began working for the United States Government at the Environmental Protection Agency [EPA] as a Budget/Program Analyst.  She has been employed by the EPA for more than 28 years, primarily within the Office of Water.
        Ms. (Solema) Woods spent three years coaching her son’s Parks and Recreation team and served as vice-president of her children’s Parent-Teacher Organization for a year.
        Ms. (Solema) Woods, a 2005 inductee into the Shaler High School Athletics Hall of Fame and the recipient of the 2005 Red Fines Coaches Sportsmanship Award, and her husband, Bill, reside in Stafford, VA with their two children, Amanda and Corey.
        “I am honored beyond belief to be receiving such an amazing award and becoming part of such a prestige group of athletes,” Ms. (Solema) Woods said.  “I was definitely fortunate to have been surrounded by wonderful coaches, amazing athletic teammates and a strong administration.  Not only was I lucky to have all of their support on a daily basis, but also lucky to have loving support and encouragement from my family and friends.”