The month of March brings a time for recognition, celebration and appreciation of the impacts and achievements made by women throughout history. Women’s History Month is a time to remember those who paved the way for generations to come.
Since the introduction of women’s athletics at Saint Louis University in the 1970s, countless athletes have contributed to the success of the various programs. Many of these exemplary women have been recognized by SLU and have been inducted into the Billiken Hall of Fame. These are some of their stories.
Jackie Kemph – Basketball
Jackie Kemph, a guard from Arlington Heights, Illinois, was an essential component of the SLU women’s basketball team from 2014-2018. In her first season with SLU, Kemph earned an Atlantic-10 Rookie of the Week title and was later named to the A-10 All-Rookie team. She went on to earn A-10 All-Conference First Team honors the following three years. In the 2015-2016 season, Kemph brought an All-American title in women’s basketball to SLU for the first time, being named honorable mention by the Associated Press.
Kemph closed out her collegiate career in 2018 by being named SLU’s Outstanding Female Senior Student-Athlete and was selected as a National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics Scholar Athlete.
She was inducted into the Billiken Hall of Fame in 2024 following a college career defined by many record-breaking years and individual awards.
Bridget Fonke – Volleyball
After missing most of her freshman season due to injury, Bridget Fonke returned with resilience to lead the SLU women’s volleyball team to their most victorious era in the program’s history from 2006-2009. During her time at SLU, Fonke and her team claimed two A-10 Championship titles and advanced to the NCAA tournament in the 2006, 2007 and 2008 seasons.
Fonke also earned multiple individual awards, including Most Outstanding Player of the 2008 A-10 Championship and two American Volleyball Coaches Association All-America honorable-mention selections. Fonke still stands among the top SLU volleyball players of all time, ranking third in career service aces with 155 and tenth in career kills with 1,274.
She was inducted into the Billiken Hall of Fame in 2019.
Jamie Cavaness – Basketball
Jamie Cavaness remains a prominent name in the SLU Women’s Basketball record book after having set countless records during her time on the team from 1995-1999. The center from Granite City, Illinois, is a member of the 1000-point club and ranks third in field goal percentage, recording .517 across her career. Cavaness also led the team in both rebounds and field goal percentage during the 1996, 1997 and 1998 seasons.
She was inducted into the Billiken Hall of Fame in 2007 in honor of the long-standing records that defined her career and legacy.
Meghann Burke – Soccer
Meghann Burke is arguably one of the most well-known names in SLU soccer history, having dominated the conference through all four of her collegiate seasons from 1999-2002. The goalkeeper and St. Louis native earned the Conference USA Freshman Player of the Year award in 1999, as well as two Conference USA Defensive Player of the Year titles in 2000 and 2002. She became the first All-American for SLU in women’s soccer, earning National Soccer Coaches Association of America Second Team honors in 2002.
Burke also excelled academically throughout her athletic career, earning her NSCAA All-Region Scholar Athlete honors in 2001 and 2002, and Conference USA Women’s Soccer Scholar Athlete of the Year in 2002. She currently holds the career record at SLU for most goalkeeper saves with 347 and is second in goalkeeper wins with 48.
Burke went on to play professionally after graduating from SLU, earned the Conference USA co-Player of the Decade award in 2004 and was inducted into the Billiken Hall of Fame in 2009.
