Rita Easterling

Rita Gail Easterling (born July 26, 1955) is an American former basketball player. Called 'Queen of the Floor Burns', she played college basketball for Mississippi College where she was named Kodak All-American in 1977. She later played professionally for the Chicago Hustle in the Women's Professional Basketball League from 1978 to 1981 and was named the leagues MVP and All-Star MVP in 1979.

Prior to college, Easterling played basketball at Morton High School and in 1973 she was named Mississippi Miss Basketball.

In 2011, Easterling was inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame.

Coaching career
Easterling served as an assistant coach with the Mississippi College women's basketball team after graduation. Following her professional career, she returned to Mississippi, first as an assistant coach but took over as head coach in 1983.