Hall Of Famer Janiva Willis
Janiva Willis was inducted into the 2012 Winthrop Hall of Fame after an illustri-
ous career as an Eagle.
When she ended her career, Willis became one of just three players in school
history to be named All-Big South four times. Her teammate Kelli Johnson did so the
same four years as Willis. Fellow Hall of Famer Lisa Kemme was the first. All four
years she was named to the All-Big South First Team.
In four years, Willis played 234 games recording 174 runs, 245 hits, 500 total
bases, 51 doubles, 11 triples, 30 home runs, 103 RBI, 49 stolen bases, and 90
walks. Willis left the program as the all-time leader in games played, total at-bats,
total runs, total hits, doubles, home runs, total bases, and walks. She also inked her
name into some single-season records: most at-bats (201), runs (60), home runs
(11), total bases (125), and walks (27).
In 2004 when Willis set the school record for runs in a season she averaged 0.95
per game, which ranked 11th nationally. That season she also led the Big South in
runs, hits, doubles, home runs, total bases and walks.
In 2005, she was named the Big South Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year
and following her senior year in 2005, Willis was named the NCAA’s South Carolina
Woman of the Year and was a Top 10 Finalist for NCAA National Woman of the Year.
In 2002, Willis played with the Canadian National team and later on in 2005 and
2007 as well.
