Dee Kantner, a 1978 Exeter grad, who is one of the preeminent women's college basketball officials, was elected to the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame Tuesday.

Kantner, a longtime resident of Charlotte, N.C., has officiated 22 Final Fours and 15 NCAA championship games.

In 1997, she and Violet Palmer were the first women hired as NBA officials.

Kantner has also served as supervisor of officials and director of referee development for the WNBA.

Among those included in the 12-person class are two-time Daytona 500 winner Dale Earnhardt Jr., PGA Tour veteran Davis Love III and former ACC Commissioner Gene Corrigan.

The induction ceremony will be held in May.