A BRIEF HISTORY OF BASKETBALL

Dec. 21, 1891: Dr. James Naismith introduces Basket Ball at Springfield, Mass; a few months later, women start to hold games.March 22, 1893: Smith College is first women's school to play basketball. 1896: First professional game played in Trenton, N.J. 1926: First women's Amateur Athletic Union tournament held in Pasadena, Calif. 1934: First men's college basketball game played in Madison Square Garden. 1946: Basketball Association of America merges with National Basketball League to form National Basketball Assn. (NBA). March 20, 1972: First national collegiate championship for women's basketball. 1976: Women's basketball becomes an Olympic sport: Soviet Union defeats US team in Montreal, 112-77.