Jan. 30, 2001

Former Villanova University women's basketball standout Nikki Bendix was inducted into the Philadelphia Big 5 Hall of Fame during halftime of last Saturday's men's game between St. Joseph's University and the University of Pennsylvania played at The Palestra. With Benedix's induction, Villanova now has 11 former women's basketball players enshrined in the Big 5 Hall of Fame.

Benedix played for head coach Harry Perretta and the Wildcats from 1989-93. During her Villanova career, she tallied 1,280 points (ranks ninth all-time at Villanova), 606 rebounds (ninth all-time), 244 steals and 135 assists. Bendix still owns the school record for steals by a senior with 85. During her career, she scored 30 or more points three times and she helped the Wildcats to a 12-4 Big 5 record in her four seasons.

For her efforts, Benedix was twice named second team All-Big East in 1991-92 and 1992-93 and she was first team All-Big Five three times in 1991, 1992 and 1993.

Joining Benedix as Hall of Fame inductees for the Class of 2001 are former University of Pennsylvania men's basketball coach Chuck Daly, Bernard Blunt who played at St. Joseph's from 1990-95 and Audrey Codner who graduated from St. Joseph's in 1994.