Hall of Fame
Sandra Haley Taylor, a native of Melbourne, Arkansas, was a key member of several successful Riderette athletic programs in the mid to late 1970s under hall of fame coaching pioneer Dr. Margaret Downing. Haley was a member of two AWISA title-winning basketball teams and one volleyball squad that placed as AWISA tournament runner-up.
Â
Haley played in 92 career games for Downing's Riderette Basketball program totaling 949 points (10.3 ppg) which was the fifth-highest career total by a Riderette at the time, is the seventh-most all-time in program history among players that competed before the three-point shot and is currently 17th on the all-time scoring list. She scored at an efficient clip; one of the highest for the Riderettes during her career and was known for her top rebounding ability.
Â
In her first two seasons, she aided the program to a combined 40 wins which included the 1975-76 Arkansas Women's Intercollegiate Sports Association (AWISA) title and an AWISA regular season co-championship and AWISA Tournament runner-up finish the next season following a 20-win campaign which remains a program record to this day. Within those 20 wins were 16 consecutive victories which also stands as a program record. She was named an All-AWISA Second Team selection for her efforts following the 1976-77 season.
Â
The 1978-79 season was Haley's final on the hardwood as a Riderette and the Natural State product saved her best for last. She averaged a career-best 13.4 points per game and logged what was at the time just the 10th 300+ point season in program history as she finished the campaign with 322 points.
Â
