Robbins’s number 14 retired
Tyler Hearn, Sports Editor
photo: Jessie K. Finch / Collegian
On Saturday, Feb. 17 at the conclusion of the Tulsa vs. Rice women’s basketball game, The University of Tulsa retired Jillian Robbins’s No. 14 jersey. Robbins is the first female basketball player at TU to have her jersey retired.
Robbins, a six-foot one-inch senior forward from Spring, Texas, is Tulsa’s most decorated athlete and holds school records for points, rebounds, field goals, free throws, steals, blocked shots and double-double games and owns the school’s only triple-double performance.
“Jillian Robbins is a tenacious and versatile player who has the ability to change the complexion of the game on both ends of the floor,” said head coach Charlene Thomas-Swinson.
“She is a tough competitor who is not only a dominating force on the boards, but has developed into a legitimate scoring threat. Jillian is the type of player who has an impact on every game she plays.”
In her record breaking career, Robbins has earned honorable mention All-American accolades, was a three-time First Team All-Conference selection (2 in WAC, 1 in C-USA), was a two-time All-Defensive Team Performer and 2004 Newcomer of the Year in the WAC, and has been named conference player of the week 13 times (5 in WAC, 8 in C-USA).
“Jillian is one of the most phenomenal athletes I have ever seen, it is absolutely amazing,” said University of Alabama-Birmingham Head Coach Aundra Smith. “She does a lot for The University of Tulsa’s team and is a model student-athlete.”
This season, Robbins averages 19.8 points per game, ranking second in the conference, as well as first in steals, second in overall rebounding, blocked shots and offensive rebounds, and third in field goal percentage and defensive rebounds. Nationally, she ranks fifth in total rebounds, ninth in steals, and 19th in scoring.
“Her rebounding ability is phenomenal, her pursuit of the ball is better than any player I’ve seen in a very long time,” said SMU head coach Rhonda Rompola.
“Watching her since (she was) a freshman, she has improved every year.”
Robbins has continued to improve each year, receiving more and more awards and recognition, one of the biggest being named Conference USA Tournament MVP as she led Tulsa to the 2006 Women’s C-USA championship and a deep run in the NCAA tournament. Robbins credits her teammates and coaches for supporting her and helping her achieve such a record-setting career.
“Well first and foremost, I want to give our younger players the opportunity to be successful because I know my freshman year I got that opportunity, and that really helped set the ground work for what I wanted to do by the time I was in this spot,” she said.
This season Robbins has been nominated for many awards, including the Lowe’s Senior Class Award, the John R. Wooden Award and the Naiswith Award and is also an All American candidate.
“Off the court she is just as nice and is just a great role model for women’s basketball and for Conference USA,” said Memphis head coach Blair Savage. “You just hope she is having a bad night when you play against her.”
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