The former Mary (Gaudreau) Messer starred for the Siena Women’s Basketball program from 1979-83. She is Siena’s all-time leading scorer with 2,084 points in addition to also holding the program’s all-time record for field goals made (891) and ranks second in steals (281).
Messer also boasts Siena’s single-game scoring record with 41 points in a 102-64 win over Molloy on Feb. 20, 1981. She averaged 18.4 points during her brilliant 113-game career, including at least 17.7 points per game during each of her four seasons.
Messer was named the New York State AIAW Division II Player of the Year after guiding Siena to the NYSAIAW Championship in 1982. Siena amassed 84 victories during her prolific career, winning 20 or more games in each season.
Originally from North Adams, Massachusetts, Messer was a two-time First Team CoSIDA Academic All-American. She graduated from Siena College in 1983 with her degree in accounting. Messer was inducted into Siena’s Hall of Fame in 1988.
Messer currently resides in Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania with her husband, Jeff, and three children. She has served as the Director of Slippery Rock Area Parks and Recreation for the past 15 years. Jeff is the head baseball coach at Slippery Rock University where he has amassed 937 wins, a .612 winning percentage and led his team to four Division II College World Series appearances in his 31 seasons at the helm. The couple’s son, Billy, serves alongside his father as Slippery Rock’s recruiting coordinator and assistant coach.