PRINCETON, W.Va. – Beth Rist didn’t bother using her police instincts. She let the case solve itself.

Rist, an Ironton police officer, got a phone call a few weeks ago from the University of Charleston but she said there was very little information. The former Lady Eagle basketball star shrugged it off.

But another call came and the mystery was solved.

She was named as one of the best 25 women’s basketball players in the 25-year history of the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.

“It was all kind of weird. They just told me I was being honored, but they didn’t say what it was. They said more details would be announced later,” Rist said.

“Then there was a call at work the other day and the dispatcher said it was for me from the University of Charleston. I answered it and they told me I had been named to the All-Time Top 25 Women’s (WVIAC) team.”

A panel of 31 past and present coaches, administrators, players, and media members have selected the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference’s “25 at 25” squad, the 25 best all-time players along with five top coaches. The group was selected to celebrate the 25th anniversary of women’s athletics under the WVIAC banner.

Rist was pleased with the honor, but she said it probably mean more when she is older.

“This is nice for I’m old and at Jo-Lin (Health Center). It’ll be nice to have something to read,” Rist said.

A total of 55 players and 12 coaches were included on the final voting ballot for the “25 at 25” team.

Players were required to win a major conference award, earn first team All-WVIAC accolades twice, or score 2,000-plus career points to earn inclusion on the ballot.

Rist was an All-Ohio basketball standout for the Ironton Lady Fighting Tigers and helped lead the team to its first state tournament appearance in 1981.

A three-time All-WVIAC first team selection (1982, 83, 84), she is third on the Golden Eagles all-time scoring list with 1,740 points. She is also fourth in UC history with 430 career assists.

She is among the school’s career top 10 with 221 steals and 88 blocked shots.

Rist was first team NAIA All-American as a senior in 1984 and second team in 1982. She was a three-time All-WVIAC tournament selection.

Charleston won the regular season championship all four seasons Rist played for the Lady Eagles as they posted an impressive 45-1 record in WVIAC play.

Rist averaged 16.0 points, 5.9 assists, and 2.3 steals in her senior season.