Ruthie Bolton

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Ruthie Bolton
Ruthie Bolton visit to Samoa, October 24-27, 2017 (24038782048) (cropped).jpg
Bolton in 2017
Personal information
Born (1967-05-25) May 25, 1967 (age 54)
Lucedale, Mississippi
NationalityAmerican
Listed height5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Listed weight137 lb (62 kg)
Career information
High schoolMcLain (McLain, Mississippi)
CollegeAuburn (1985–1989)
WNBA draft1997 / Allocated
Selected by the Sacramento Monarchs
Playing career1990–2004
PositionGuard
Number6
Career history
1992–1993C.A. Fainzia
1993–1995Erreti Faenza
1997–2004Sacramento Monarchs
Career highlights and awards
Stats at WNBA.com
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com
Women's Basketball Hall of Fame

Alice Ruth Bolton (born May 25, 1967), known as Ruthie Bolton, is an American former professional women's basketball player. Born in Lucedale, Mississippi, she played at the collegiate, Olympic and professional levels of women's basketball. Bolton played in the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) from 1997 through 2004 with the Sacramento Monarchs. She played collegiately at Auburn University, teaming with her older sister, Mae Ola Bolton. She was inducted into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011. Bolton has also served as a first lieutenant in the United States Army Reserves as a transportation officer.

Professional career[]

Bolton started her professional career in Sweden during the 1990–91 season. The following season, she played in Hungary, becoming the first USA woman to play professionally in the country. She spent the 1992–93 season with C.A. Fainzia in Italy, averaging 26 points per game.[1]

In 1994, Bolton moved to Italy to play for Erreti Faenza. During the 1993–94 season, she averaged 28 points and 7.1 rebounds per game. She stayed with Faenza the following season where she averaged 25.5 points and 6.0 rebounds per game.[1] During the 1995–96 season, Bolton played in Turkey.

She went on to play eight seasons in the WNBA with the Sacramento Monarchs.

USA Basketball[]

Bolton wearing a Team USA jersey in April 2006

Bolton was named to the team representing the US at the World University Games held during July 1991 in Sheffield, England. While the USA team had won gold in 1983, they finished with the silver in 1985, in fifth place in 1987, and did not field a team in 1989. The team was coached by Tara VanDerveer of Stanford. After winning opening games easily, the USA faced China in the medal round. The USA shot only 36% from the field, but limited the team from China to 35%, and won 79–76 to advance to the gold medal game. There they faced 7–0 Spain, but won 88–62 to claim the gold medal. Bolton was the team's leading scorer with 14 points per game, just ahead of Lisa Leslie's 13 points per game.[2]

In 1994, Bolton-Holifield was named to the national team which competed in the World Championships in Sydney, Australia. The team was coached by Tara VanDerveer. The team won their early games, then advanced to the medal rounds and faced Brazil. Despite 17 points from Bolton-Holifield and 29 from Katrina McClain, the USA fell 110–107 when Brazil hit ten of ten free throws in the final minute. The USA went on to defeat Australia 100–95 to claim the bronze medal.[3]

Bolton continued with the national team to the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia. Bolton was the leading scorer in the game against the Ukraine, with 21 points. She helped the team win all eight games to win the gold medal for the USA team. Bolton averaged 12.8 points per game and led the team in steals with 23.[4]

The national team traveled to Berlin, Germany in July and August 1998 for the FIBA World Championships. The USA team won a close opening game against Japan 95–89, then won their next six games easily. In the semifinal game against Brazil, the USA team was behind as much as ten points in the first half. Bolton hit a three pointer in the second half to give her team the lead, as part of a 16-point scoring effort, and the USA went on to win 93–79. The gold medal game was a rematch against Russia. In the first game, the USA team dominated almost from the beginning, but in the rematch, the team from Russia took the early lead and led much of the way. With under two minutes remaining, the USA was down by two points when Bolton hit a three pointer to give the USA a lead. Russia tied the game, but Bolton hit another three to give the USA a lead they would not give up. The USA held on to win the gold medal 71–65.[5]

Bolton continued with the national team to the 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia. The USA won all eight games, including the gold medal game against host Australia to win the gold medal. Bolton averaged 5.0 points per game.[6]

Auburn statistics[]

Source[7]

Legend
  GP Games played   GS  Games started  MPG  Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage  3P%  3-point field goal percentage  FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game  APG  Assists per game  SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game  PPG  Points per game  Bold  Career high
Year Team GP Points FG% 3P% FT% RPG APG SPG BPG PPG
1985-86 Auburn 30 296 53.3% -- 62.8% 4.8 1.4 1.6 0.0 9.9
1986-87 Auburn 33 275 52.1% -- 73.5% 2.9 2.3 1.6 0.0 8.3
1987-88 Auburn 35 335 54.7% 62.5% 74.1% 3.1 6.1 2.0 0.1 9.6
1988-89 Auburn 34 270 44.6% 37.5% 61.8% 4.2 5.7 2.3 0.0 7.9
TOTAL Auburn 132 1176 51.1% 50.0% 68.8% 3.7 4.0 1.9 0.0 8.9

Current activities[]

After being released by the Monarchs as an active player in 2005, she returned to the Monarchs to work in their front office, specializing in public relations. In 2004 and 2005, she served as the head coach for the women's basketball team at William Jessup University, a California Pacific Conference school in Rocklin, California. Currently Bolton is the head coach for women's basketball at Vacaville Christian High School in Vacaville, California; she also dabbles in gospel singing.

Ms. Bolton has also been an active participant in the Sport Diplomacy Sports Envoy program for the U.S. Department of State. In this function, she has traveled to Armenia, Australia, China, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Papua New Guinea, and Saudi Arabia to conduct basketball clinics for approximately 1300 youth and women worldwide. In so doing, Bolton helped contribute to the Sport Diplomacy's mission to promote greater understanding and inclusion through sport and supported the U.S. foreign policy goal of advancing the status of women and girls around the world.[8][9][10][11]

She currently lives in Sacramento, California.

Ruthie Bolton continues to work with the Golden State Warriors participating in many of their youth camps. She also continues to do her 'AIM HIGH' program at many junior high and high schools throughout Sacramento County and beyond. Ruthie Bolton is now endorsing the opening of "Ruthie's Place" which will be located in the Oak Park area of Sacramento. Ruthie's Place will be a place for (1) Trauma Informed Domestic Violence Support Center for women and families (2) The first youth drop in support services center for girls and LGBTQ youth that are being exploited and sex trafficked throughout Sacramento County (3) Boutique Thrift Center that is a social renewal model (Teach one, reach one). Ruthie is collaborating with A Community For Peace (ACFP) on Ruthie's Place. www.acommunityforpeace.org.

In 2014, Ruthie was inducted into the Multi-Ethnic Sports Hall of Fame.

Ruthie Bolton is a published author who has written two books (1) From Pain to Peace and (2) The Ride of a Lifetime.

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Ruthie Bolton-Holifield". Washington Post. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  2. ^ "Fifteenth World University Games -- 1993". USA Basketball. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015. Retrieved 12 October 2015.
  3. ^ "Twelvth [sic] World Championship For Women -- 1994". USA Basketball. Archived from the original on 2013-10-13. Retrieved 13 Oct 2013.
  4. ^ "Games of the XXVIth Olympiad -- 1996". USA Basketball. Archived from the original on 2013-10-13. Retrieved 13 Oct 2013.
  5. ^ "Thirteenth World Championship For Women -- 1998". USA Basketball. June 10, 2010. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
  6. ^ "Games of the XXVIIth Olympiad -- 2000". USA Basketball. Archived from the original on 2013-10-13. Retrieved 13 Oct 2013.
  7. ^ "Auburn Media Guide" (PDF). Retrieved 2017-09-08.
  8. ^ "Sports Envoys and GSMP alumna Karo Lelai team up in Papua New Guinea – Empowering Women and Girls Initiative". Empowering Women and Girls Initiative. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
  9. ^ "U.S. Mission Brings WNBA Athletes for Sports Envoy Program in Kazakhstan | Astana, Kazakhstan - United States Diplomatic Mission". kazakhstan.usembassy.gov. Archived from the original on 2015-10-04. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
  10. ^ "WNBA, Jeddah United collaborate". Arab News. 2008-07-19. Retrieved 2016-05-01.
  11. ^ "basketball greats U.S. Embassy brings to Armenia for training camps". U.S. Embassy in Armenia. 2018-07-20. Retrieved 2020-10-02.

External links[]

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