NANETTE GIBSON
Nanette Gibson was one of the most dominating athletes to ever come out of Saginaw. In 1974 she became the first female to play on an all-boys baseball team at Central Junior High School. She would go on to Saginaw High School, where she was a standout volleyball, softball and basketball player. The 1978 SHS graduate was a two-time All-Saginaw Valley League softball pitcher with several no-hitters and a career .400 batting average. She also made the All-SVL team in volleyball, but the sport of basketball is where she most dominate. Gibson was a three-year starter for the Trojans and averaged a double-double for his career with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Saginaw High won district titles in all three years she was on the varsity. She earned All-SVL honors twice and named the conference MVP both her junior and senior season. Gibson also collected All-State accolades and was named Outstanding Athlete of the Year by the U-M Club of Saginaw. She went to Michigan State University and in 1978 she was one of the school’s first female scholarship recipients. She was a solid offensive force and tough rebounder for three seasons. Gibson tallied 278 points (12.1 average) and 291 rebounds (12.7 average) – which led the team – during the 1978-79 season. During the 1979-80 season, Gibson scored 250 points for an 11.9 points-per-game average, while leading the squad with 211 rebounds (10.0 average). She had a splendid senior season in 1980-81 when she led the team in scoring with 279 points (16.4 average) and 146 rebounds (8.6 average), earning team MVP honors. Gibson was named AIAW Collegiate All-State in 1978-79 and 1980-81, and the National Collegiate Scouting Association All-Region in 1979-80. The power forward holds MSU records for most rebounds in one game when she pulled down 24 against Pittsburgh during her freshman season. She also holds the Spartans record for most steals in a game with seven against Iowa. Gibson has the seventh best all-time scoring average in MSU women’s basketball history with her 16.4 p.p.g. mark her senior year. She scored 807 points and grabbed 648 rebounds during her career at Michigan State University.