Completed Event: Women's Basketball versus UCLA on March 29, 2026 , Loss , 58, to, 70
/
Final
Women's Basketball
58
vs UCLA
70
Catching Up With Former Hoops Player Hilary Howard
8/2/2009 6:15:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Follow Duke women's basketball on Twitter. Click here for more information and to sign up head to Twitter.com.
DURHAM, N.C. — GoDuke.com recently sat down with former Duke women's basketball student-athlete Hilary Howard, who played for the Blue Devils from 1996-99; to see what she is doing these days, get her thoughts on Duke women's basketball and to reflect on her time in Durham.
Howard, was one of Duke's top point guards to put on a Blue Devil uniform, as she was the all-time assist leader for eight years prior to Lindsey Harding breaking her mark of 533 assists. Howard guided Duke to the 1999 National Championship game, including a victory over top-ranked and three-time defending NCAA Champion Tennessee in the quarterfinals. She is a two-time All-ACC selection in 1998 and 1999.
GoDuke.com: Give us a run down on what you are doing now.
Hilary Howard: I am the director of communications and marketing for the NCGA, the largest regional golf association in the country. Our office is in Pebble Beach, Calif. I am also finishing up my masters degree in Communications Management from the Newhouse School at Syracuse University. The distance-learning format allows me to keep a full-time job and travel back and forth to campus three times a year for classes.
GD: Do you have a spouse and children?
HH: Adam Heieck and I were just married in September.
GD: How often are you able to watch Duke basketball games?
HH: I watch all of the games on television, both men's and women's games. I have to record the games at 7:00 p.m. because I am still at work due to the time difference.
GD: How much has women's basketball changed since you played?
HH: The sport continues to get bigger and better. I've enjoyed watching the increased interest and coverage of the Duke team. Maybe I am just getting older and slower but the game definitely seems more athletic and physical today than when I played.
GD: When is the last time you were able to come back to see a Duke game?
HH: I was able to watch Duke play Georgia Tech during the reunion weekend last season. With my Grandmother and many good friends in the area, I make it back to campus once a year during basketball season. My parents usually come from New York and meet me for a game.
GD: Have you had a chance to come back and see the new practice facility? If so how nice would it have been to have that when you were playing at Duke?
HH: Lauren Rice gave us a tour of the practice facility last season. Everything was first class and the film room was very impressive. It is nice for the players to have an isolated place to work on their games. My class just missed the renovated locker rooms by a year, we were sorry to miss the sauna and hot tub.
GD: How much has the Duke campus changed since you were in school?
HH: The campus continues to grow; a few of the roads that were there are taken up by additional dorms now. It seems as if the eating options have gotten a lot better.
GD: Where did you live when you were at Duke?
HH: Our class was the first time all freshmen lived on East campus. I started in Randolph dorm, lived in Edens Quad on West, an apartment on Central campus and then off campus at Erwin Square my senior year. I was able to experience different parts of campus which was nice.
GD: What are some of your best memories of Duke?
HH: I loved being a student at Duke and had a wonderful time with teammates and friends. The best memories are from the laughs off the court and getting to know people well.
GD: Do you keep in touch with your former teammates?
HH: I do keep in touch with a handful of teammates. I got married last year in California and there were five former Duke basketball players and other Duke friends there as well. I anticipate always keeping in touch with several of my former teammates. I am thankful to have played with so many fun and interesting women.
GD: Knowing what you know now, what advice would you give our current student-athletes?
HH: Enjoy the process and the people as much as you can. Early-morning workouts and other aspects of playing a Division I sport are not always fun, but representing Duke is an honor.
GD: What kind of an impact has a Duke degree had on your life?
HH: The Duke degree has opened a lot of doors and more importantly provided life lessons and training that will serve me well throughout my career.
GD: Do you remember a specific class and/or professor that you really enjoyed while at Duke?
HH: I majored in History and really enjoyed those classes. My first college class was a history lecture with Dean Wilson. The class size was large, 100 people or so, he went down the class list and called on students and brought the microphone over. I got the first question on the first day. I remember not expecting to be called on in a class of that size -- it was my welcome to academics at Duke moment.
GD: Do you get a chance to ever play pick-up basketball these days?
HH: My husband and I are in two basketball leagues together. They only last a few months but it is nice to compete on the court again. At this point I am playing more golf than basketball.
GD: How great was Duke's run in 1999?
HH: It was so exciting. We were a senior-laden team so there was the pressure of knowing your career at Duke was going to end but we kept winning. We were able to knock off some very talented teams and reach new levels for the program.
GD: Did you ever think the Blue Devils could knock out Tennessee and Pat Summitt?
HH: We were probably the only ones who thought we could beat Tennessee but the important thing was we truly believed it. We had played them earlier in the year and were intimidated in the first half because they were the three-time defending national champions. The second half of that game taught us we could play with them. I think they took us for granted in the NCAA Tournament and we took control in the opening minute and never relinquished the lead.
GD: What was it like playing in Duke's first NCAA Final Four in 1999?
HH: It was a dream come true -- every kid growing up hopes to get a chance to play in a Final Four. The accomplishment took on more significance because it was a first for the program. I look forward to celebrating Duke's first women's basketball national championship under Coach P.
Kara Lawson | 13 Gold Medals. One Standard.
Tuesday, March 31
Kara Lawson Talks Leading USA Basketball Women's National Team | NBA Today
Tuesday, March 31
The Impact They Didn’t See Coming | Handle Hard Better
Tuesday, March 31
Chelsea Gray Back Home at Duke | USA Basketball Training Camp
Tuesday, March 31
