Jessica Mentz ’02 is unquestionably the greatest women’s basketball player of the sport’s first 20 years at W&L.
Mentz was a four-year letterwinner and a team captain during her senior season. She finished her career as the school record holder in 21 different categories, including both career scoring (1,742) and career rebounding (973). Her scoring total ranked as the seventh-highest in the history of Division III women’s basketball in Virginia when she graduated.
As a rookie in 1998-99, Mentz burst onto the scene by totaling 18 points and 14 rebounds in her first collegiate game. She went on to average 15.1 points and 8.1 rebounds per game while shooting a career-best 57.3 percent from the floor. Following the season, she was named First Team All-State, Second Team All-ODAC, ODAC Rookie of the Year and South Region Rookie of the Year.
Mentz drew the focus of opposing defenses during her sophomore season and saw her numbers dip to 13.4 points and 8.6 rebounds per game. However, she earned Honorable Mention All-ODAC honors and helped lead the Generals to a 13-12 record, their first winning season in six years.
As a junior, Mentz averaged a career-high 20.7 points, to go along with 10.1 rebounds en route to becoming the first-ever women’s basketball player from W&L to earn First Team All-ODAC laurels. She also garnered First Team All-State honors.
Mentz continued to shine as a senior, averaging 20.0 points and a career-high 11.8 rebounds per contest. She was named the ODAC and Virginia College Division Player of the Year, in addition to claiming First Team All-ODAC, First Team All-State, First Team All-South Region and Honorable Mention All-America accolades.
The 1999 Washington and Lee Outstanding First-Year Female Athlete Award recipient, Mentz capped her fine career by earning the Pres Brown Award as the Outstanding Senior Female Athlete in 2002.
