But Canterino, who played for the Macs from 1988 to 1992, appreciates what those glory years did, not only for Immaculata but for women's sports in general. She makes sure her players are aware of it, and a lot more people will be aware when a film about those teams, Our Lady of Victory, is released next year.

Each day at practice the players are reminded of the exploits of those earlier teams, which included Theresa Shank Grentz, Rene Muth Portland and Marianne Crawford Stanley. All three went on to become outstanding college coaches.

Banners, now faded by time, hang in the Immaculata gym honoring the players on its national championship teams. There are also banners honoring Grentz, Stanley and Mary Scharf for earning all-American honors. Grentz earned the honor in 1974, Stanley in 1976, and Scharf in 1977.

The women's college basketball picture has changed since those glory years. The AIAW has given way to the NCAA. The Mighty Macs are no longer national powers - they finished runner-up in 1975 and fourth in 1976 - but are very content to play in the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference, a grouping of Division III schools that has grown to 12 members since being established in 1992.

There are no scholarship players in Division III - Canterino was the last one when it was a Division II school - and the recruiting budget is limited. Senior guard Nina Cammarano and junior forward Dominique Murray, like their earlier counterparts, play simply for the love of the game.

"I was not a superstar in high school," said Cammarano who attended Holy Name in Reading. "Someone told me about Immaculata, and I fell in love with it. I never dreamed of starting in college, but I've been a starter since I was a freshman."

The 5-foot-11 Murray played with three Division I signees at Padua Academy in Delaware but liked the small-school atmosphere of Immaculata. In her freshman year, she scored 400 points, more than she scored in her high school career.

Cammarano and Murray both have small roles in Our Lady of Victory, which is scheduled to be released in March.

For the Macs' home opener Nov. 19, there were a handful of fans in the gym a half hour before game time. Within minutes of the scheduled 7 p.m. start, one section of stands was nearly filled.

The stands are a relatively new addition to the gym. Like the players of the 1970s did, Canterino set up folding chairs in the gym before each game when she was playing.

"The parents would come early to sit in the front row. Otherwise you were looking at the back of somebody's head," explained Canterino who also serves as Immaculata's athletic director. She's watched Immaculata become coed and has overseen the installation of a new stadium with lights for soccer and field hockey.

Before the start of the home basketball opener, Canterino was running about because the visiting team, Keystone of La Plume, Pa., was late in arriving.

Usually, the Mac women play their games as part of a doubleheader with the men's team. On this night, however, the men were playing at Chestnut Hill. Still, a bunch of male students cheered loudly for the women from atop the other section of bleachers.

As the Immaculata players were introduced, they tossed "We back the Mac" T-shirts into the stands.

There were no noisemakers such as the big tub and buckets the Immaculata fans pounded back in the 1970s. They've been banned by the NCAA for years.

Claire Lichty, a junior lacrossse player from York, and Renee Bowers, a sophomore volleyball player from Lebanon, were at the opener. They were there to support the team and roommate Allison Diehl, a team manager.

Both were aware of Immaculata's big contribution to women's sports.

"The college Web page has something about the national championship teams on it," Lichty pointed out.

Also taking in the game were Sister Marie Lorraine Bruno and Sister Rita O'Leary. Sister Rita is a retired professor; Sister Marie teaches French. Both remember following the team during the glory years.

"I never missed a game," said Sister Marie.

At halftime, the Macs were trailing Keystone, 31-24.

"They need to cut down on the turnovers," Sister Marie said.

That was good advice. The Macs ended up tied at 65 in regulation and went on to win, 88-78, in two overtimes.

If You Go

Immaculata plays its home games in Alumnae Hall on the campus on King Road, East Whiteland Township. The Mighty Mac women play Alvernia in their next home game at 6 p.m. on Dec. 3. It's the first game of a doubleheader with the men's team. Tickets are $5, with children under 13 admitted free.

For a complete schedule and statistics, go to www.immaculata.edu/ and click on "athletics."