Caroline McCombs started more games than any player in women’s basketball history. McCombs, who played in 115 contests, was in the starting lineup on 112 occasions.
McCombs was a model of consistency during her career. She scored over 340 points, grabbed more than 100 rebounds, had over 85 assists and at least 50 steals in every year at YSU.
In her career, she scored 1,577 points, had 493 assists, grabbed 473 rebounds to go along with 236 steals. She made 577-of-1,250 field-goal attempts (46.2 percent), converted 146-of-393 3-pointers (37.2 percent) and made 279-of-356 free-throw attempts (78.4 percent). She averaged 13.7 points, 4.3 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.1 steals per game. Three times she was named the Mid-Con All-Tournament team.
As a senior in 1997-98, McCombs scored a career-high 437 points as the program posted a 28-3 overall mark and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
She averaged 14.1 points per contest, second highest on the team. She had 149 assists, 120 rebounds and 70 steals during the campaign and earned second-team all-conference honors.
She scored in double figures 22 times and had six 20-plus point performances, including a high of 25 against Akron.
As a junior, McCombs scored 386 points, grabbed 125 rebounds, had 114 assists and 53 steals. She scored in double figures 22 times and had five 20-plus point outings, including a high of 28 versus Northeastern Illinois. She averaged 14.3 points and 5.0 rebounds per contest. She was named to the all-conference second team.
As a sophomore, McCombs scored 408 points, had 144 assists, grabbed 124 rebounds and had 55 steals. She scored in double figures 17 times while scoring at least 20 on seven occasions. Against Western Illinois in the conference tournament she scored a career-high 33 points. She averaged 14.1 points and 4.3 rebounds per contest.
Her freshman season, McCombs set a school record for points scored by a freshman and was named to the conference’s all-newcomer squad. She scored 346 points, had 104 rebounds, 85 assists and 58 steals. She had 20 double-figure contests, including three 20-point games.
McCombs earned her bachelor’s degree from Youngstown State in Food and Nutrition. She earned her master’s degree from Valparaiso University in Liberal Studies with a concentration in Sports Administration.
She has remained close to basketball since leaving YSU and is in her fourth year as an assistant coach at Pittsburgh, where she currently resides. Prior to joining the staff at Pitt, she spent six years as an assistant coach at Valpo.
McCombs came to YSU from Medina High School where she set the school record for career points with 1,287.
