Albany, N.Y. - Vice President and Director of Athletics Lee McElroy, along with Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings and Albany County Executive Dan McCoy, celebrated the 40^th Anniversary of Title IX and Great Dane Women in Sports on Tuesday afternoon at SEFCU Arena Hall of Fame Room.

            The event was set to recognize the accomplishments of UAlbany's female student-athletes, both on the playing field and in the classroom. Mayor Jennings read a proclamation declaring April 10^th, 2012 UAlbany Women's Basketball Team Day, and recognized the Great Danes as the first Division I SUNY institution to make an appearance in the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament.

            Also on hand were head coaches from several other women's teams, all of who had led their respective squads to conference tournament appearances and numerous championships. In attendance was John Battaglino, who guided the Great Dane women's lacrosse team to the last undefeated record in the country last year, en route to being named national coach of the year. Head women's soccer coach Mary Frances Monroe, who guided the UAlbany women's soccer team to its first championship appearance last fall, and head field hockey coach Phil Sykes, who has coached two America East Championship teams, were also at the event.

            McElroy also recognized head softball coach Chris Cannata, who recently recorded her 500^th career victory at the helm of the Great Dane program. The room was filled with current and former student-athletes, as well as memorabilia from as far back as the 1964-65 tennis season.