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February 3, 1985 – C. Vivian Stringer & the UI Women’s Basketball Team host a record-breaking crowd of 22,157 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
C. Vivian Stringer & the UI Women’s Basketball Team made her-story when Stringer envisioned a sell-out crowd in Carver-Hawkeye arena for the Hawkeyes’ home game against Ohio State. Stringer filmed local commercials urging fans to turn out and the campaign was a wild, almost criminal success. Two hours before the 1:30 p.m. tip-off, cars were backed up to I-80. Officially, 14,821 paid for tickets, but kids were granted free admission and turned out in droves. The turnstile at Carver counted 22,157 — far more than the 15,500 seats could accommodate, or the fire marshal advised. By the time the Hawks emerged from the tunnel, the sound was deafening. Both head coaches beamed as they shook hands, Stringer with tears on her cheeks. “I wish I could turn out the lights and freeze that moment in time,” she told the Gazette.
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