Hall of Fame
Katariina Pulkkinen-Hoaas was a dominant force in the middle for the University of Southern Maine women’s basketball team from 1989-93, earning All-Little East Conference (LEC) honors in each of her first three seasons. The six-foot center helped lead the Huskies to an overall record off 99-20 as they captured three LEC regular season and tournament championships. USM qualified for the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament and advanced to the Elite Eight in each of her four seasons.
Pulkkinen-Hoaas averaged 15 points and 7.4 rebounds per game while shooting 53 percent from the field and 72 percent from the line in her rookie campaign, which saw her receive honorable mention to the 1989-90 All-LEC team. Southern Maine posted an overall record of 25-5 as they claimed the LEC regular season and tournament titles. The Huskies then advanced to the Elite Eight with victories over Eastern Connecticut (57-50) and Western Connecticut (72-65 in overtime).
Pulkkinen-Hoaas earned First Team All-LEC honors after averaging career-bests 17.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per contest while shooting 52 percent from the floor as a sophomore as Southern Maine posted a record of 23-7 and repeated as LEC tournament champion. The Huskies went on to record NCAA tournament wins over Salem State (60-57) and Susquehanna (83-74).
Pulkkinen-Hoaas was named First Team All-LEC for the second consecutive year after averaging 15.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game and shooting 54 percent from the field as a junior. USM would go 26-7 that season while claiming a share of the LEC regular season championship notching NCAA tournament victories over Clark (73-61) and SUNY Cortland (50-49).
At the conclusion of her collegiate career Pulkkinen-Hoaas was USM’s all-time leader in field goal percentage (.538) while raking second in career points (1,515) and field goals made (662) and sixth in career rebounds (757). She remains in the top-10 in each of those categories to this day. Her .581 shooting percentage in 1992-93 remains second-best in program history, while her career-best 474 points and 206 field goals made in 1991-92 rank her in the top-15 to this day.
Pulkkinen-Hoaas earned her bachelor’s degree from Southern Maine in 1993, and was inducted into USM’s Husky Hall of Fame in 2002.