University of Southern Mississippi Athletics
"Pauline Love Day" Declared in Luxora, Ark.
7/15/2016 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
LUXORA, Ark. -- The Southern Miss women's basketball program gained a bit of prestige Friday with the announcement that July 15 in Luxora, Ark., would be named "Pauline Love Day."
Love, an assistant coach on the staff and also a three-time All-Conference USA performer for the Lady Eagles (2008-10), was born and raised in the small town of 1,500 tucked away in the Natural State's far northeast corner.
Love was one of many children to go through a six-week, summer program in town that included a Kids' Day celebration on the final day, complete with food, drinks, horseback riding, a petting zoo and many other events. Sheriff Freddy Ware sought to have that final day coincide with another event dedicated to one of Luxora's favorite people.
"My Aunt Doris called me and asked what I was doing that day," Love said. "It was a month before so I had no idea. She said the city would possibly do a day for me. I was real excited about it. Freddy Ware, our sheriff back home, organized the whole thing. He said ‘you've done a lot for our town and we wanted to give this day for you.'"
The tribute includes everything from t-shirts to customized Snapchat filters.
Love completed her standout high school career in 2005 and went to Jones County Junior College, where as a freshman she became the school's first NJCAA All-American in a decade. The big year helped catapult her to Hattiesburg, where she starred for head coach Joye Lee-McNelis. Everyone in her hometown town took notice of what she was doing on and off the court.
"We would get a busload of kids to come see her when Southern Miss would play at Memphis," Ware said. "She received a scholarship to go to college and then played in the WNBA and overseas. She was one of the kids that came through our program and we wanted to give this to her.
"This is a special honor; we don't do this for everyone."
Upon conclusion of her Southern Miss playing career, Love played for both the WNBA's Connecticut Sun and the French Professional League's Cote d'Opale Basket Calais.
Governor Asa Hutchinson even sent a letter to Luxora recognizing "Pauline Love Day."
"She is a role model to the kids back home," Ware said. "Her story shows that it is possible to get a scholarship to college and get an education. Pauline has traveled all over the world playing and coaching basketball, and we are proud to call her one of our own."
