Sharon Epps
Sharon Epps
  • Title:
    Basketball
  • Year Inducted:
    2009
  • Transfer/Graduation Date:
    1981

Bio

Sharon Epps attended Helix High School in La Mesa from 1975 to 1979 and competed on the girls’ varsity basketball team during the last two years. A gifted athlete, she was named MVP her senior year and All-League, Grossmont District.

In 1979, Sharon came to Southwestern College and joined the Women’s Basketball team. Over the two years she was one of the team’s statistical leaders: 52% field goal shooting percentage; 16.8 pts. Per game average (total of 564 pts. And a career high of 32 pts.); 9 rebounds per game average (total of 267 rebounds and a career high of 18); and over 100 passes intercepted per year, a new record. Sharon was named first team All Mission Conference both years at SWC. She and the team went on to become league champions and participated in both the regional and state tournaments.

In 1981, Sharon accepted a scholarship to play basketball at Utah State University. During her two years there, she scored 947 points and intercepted over 200 passes. When she left she has set new USU records: points scored per fame, 17.6 pts.; blocked shots in a season, 24; and rebounds, 605. Also she moved up to 5th on the all-time scoring list.

After college, Sharon continued her basketball career. She was invited to participate in the 1983 Olympic trails and then in 1984 joined the WNBL Virginia Waves team which was part of the first women’s professional league in the U.S. By 1989, Sharon could be found playing on the Mainland Otago professional team in New Zealand.

Returning to San Diego, Sharon became a basketball coach and a San Diego County Juvenile Probation Officer. She coached at Montgomery High School for thirteen years and SWC for one.

With the death of her father due to cancer, Sharon decided to return to college so that she could enter the medical research field and begin searching for a cure for cancer. In 2002, she entered San Diego State through its Bridge Program which focused on providing academic preparation for “future scholars.” During her time at state, Sharon earned several awards: a Louis Stokes AMP Scholar Grant to conduct research, a MIRT Scholar Grant to conduct research on diabetes in Ghana, and a Ronald E. McNair Scholar Grant for continuing her studies in graduate school. Sharon was also invited to join the Sigma Chi S.D. Chapter of the American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. In 2006, she graduated with a degree in Biology and a minor in African studies. Today, you will find Sharon at Texas A&M University pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Biochemistry and Biophysics focusing her studies on cancer research. No she has not forgotten her father, his parents or his brother who died of cancer.

Congratulations Sharon Epps! Southwestern College is distinctly honored tonight to acknowledge your athletic and academic accomplishments and to induct you into the 2008-2009 Athletics Hall of Fame.