Eileen Fenton on the court for UMass Boston during her Hall of Fame career. UMass Boston photosOne of the most decorated players in UMass Boston basketball history will be inducted into the New England Basketball Hall of Fame in August.

Eileen Fenton, the only women’s player in the school’s history to have her number retired, will be honored in a ceremony on Aug. 8 at the DCU Center in Worcester. The Dorchester native and current resident still holds three school records, including the single-season scoring mark of 490 points in 1989-90. She graduated from UMass Boston in 1991.

Fenton was nominated by her coach, Charlie Titus, and by Suffolk University’s Jim Nelson.

“Eileen was a pioneer in our sports program in our early years. She played a key role in making the women’s sports programs matter on this campus. An outstanding student and fully dedicated athlete, Eileen was extremely focused and hard working. She gave real meaning to the term ‘student-athlete,’ and as a result she experienced tremendous success in the classroom and on the basketball court,” Titus said. “I always enjoyed watching Eileen play. She displayed skill and passion, which allowed her to lift everyone around her. This induction is such a well-deserved honor.”

Fenton said the nomination came as a complete surprise and called it an honor. “UMass is a big piece of my success and I’m so thankful,” she said. “When I was playing the game, I never thought of it in terms of records, it was just pure love of the game. I’m a city kid. I was fortunate enough to be exposed to great athletes, parks, and accessible sports.”

Fenton said there was a spot for her to play basketball every night of the week in the neighborhood, whether it was the Little House, the Boys and Girls Club, or Ryan Playground.

Even today, the Savin Hill resident plays basketball every Tuesday night with a women’s league at Hemenway Park. “It’s a competitive league and a great group of women. I’m probably on the older end of the age range, but I can still run,” she said with a laugh.

“I can’t help but think I would have been a different person” without playing basketball, Fenton said. “I do appreciate the value that sports have added to my life in terms of leadership, team building, and playing as a team member. It transferred to my professional life and personal life as an adult.”

Fenton, who works as an attorney for MassDOT, was inducted into the UMass Boston Hall of Fame in 2003. DShe said she does not plan to bring her basketball sneakers to the Aug. 8 ceremony, “unless they let me play in stilettos. I’d probably rather play basketball anyway.”