Bio

Connie Winstead Mackay

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College (1975-1977) / Basketball

Connie Winstead made history from the moment she arrived at Perk. She was a member of the first group at Perk to receive women’s athletic scholarships. The 1975-76 team was the first to bear the nickname Lady Bulldogs. She made Mississippi Association of Junior Colleges All-State First Team in both her years at Perk. In 2002, the only other woman basketball player of the institution to have done that was Helen (Bond) Maples (1947-49).

In her second season (1976-1977), Winstead was one of a trio of high scorers that set Lady Bulldog records for points and championships won that sill stood in 2002. In the Feb. 23, 1977, state tournament elimination match against Coahoma in Wentzell Center, she scored 42 points to set the record for points made by a woman player in a single game in the school’s history. The following night, the Lady Bulldogs defeated the East Central Lady Warriors to take the school’s first MAJC-sanctioned Mississippi women’s basketball championships since its founding in 1911.

The team’s next stop was the National Junior College Athletic Association Region VII Tournament in Cleveland, Tenn., for the Lady Bulldogs’ first NJCAA outing. In a March 5 game, Winstead racked up 22 points in the 68-51 defeat of Cleveland State Community College, capturing the NJCAA Region VII Championship. Winstead was named All-Tournament, Most Valuable Player and All-NJCAA Region VII.

The team then journeyed to Overland Park, Kan., for the NJCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament. Gulf Coast lost the first game and then won the next four to place seventh in the nation. Winstead was selected All-American Second Team.

After graduation from Perk, Winstead signed the first women’s athletic scholarship given by Mississippi College. The following year, she accepted a scholarship to the University of Mississippi and was a starter on Ole Miss’ 1978-79 state championship team. After college, she was drafted by the St. Louis Streak of the Women’s Professional Basketball League. When her professional career ended, she married David Mackay, who played Bulldog basketball for Coach Bob Weathers (1975-77).