Earlham Women’s Basketball: A Legacy of Success

Earlham Women’s Basketball has a long and successful history. The team has won numerous conference championships and made several appearances in the NCAA Division III tournament. Earlham is also one of the few schools to have produced two WBCA Division III Players of the Year.

Introduction

Earlham College has a long and successful tradition in women’s basketball. The program has been one of the most successful in the history of Division III women’s basketball, with an all-time record of 1,023 wins and 523 losses. Earlham has won 20 Indiana Conference championships, most recently in 2016, and has made 14 appearances in the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament The team has also been honored by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) for its academic success, with 12 Academic Top 25 awards.

Earlham’s success is due in large part to the efforts of its Head Coach Billy Lewis. Lewis has been at the helm of the program for 32 years, and during that time he has compiled an impressive record of 821 wins and 343 losses. Under his leadership, Earlham has won 10 Indiana Conference championships and made eight appearances in the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament Lewis was inducted into the Earlham Athletics Hall of Fame in 2009.

The Earlham women’s Basketball Program has produced many Great players over the years. Three Earlham alumni have been inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame Nancy Lieberman (class of 1979), Anne Donovan (class of 1983), and Tina Thompson (class of 1997). Other notable alumni include NBA veterans Katie Douglas (class of 2001) and Ebony Hoffman (class of 2002).

The Early Days

The Earlham women’s basketball team has a long and successful history. The team was founded in 1896 and played its first game against a local High School The team quickly gained popularity and began playing other colleges and universities in the area. In the early years, the team had great success, winning numerous conference championships.

In the 1950s, the team began to struggle and had several losing seasons. However, the team rebounded in the 1960s and 1970s and enjoyed several successful seasons. During this time, the team won several conference championships and made several appearances in the NCAA tournament

The 1980s were a decade of transition for the team. The team experienced some success, but also had several losing seasons. However, the 1990s were a decade of great success for the team. The team won several conference championships and made multiple appearances in the NCAA Tournament

The Earlham women’s Basketball team has a long history of success. The team has won numerous conference championships and made multiple appearances in the NCAA tournament The team is currently enjoying one of its most successful periods in history.

The Golden Era

The late 1960s and early ‘70s were a golden era for Earlham women’s basketball. The team posted a 74-11 record during that stretch, highlighted by consecutive perfect seasons in 1967-68 (10-0) and 1968-69 (11-0). The Quakers also won series over then-powerhouses DePauw, Butler, and Valparaiso during that time.

The Modern Era

Since the turn of the century, Earlham women’s basketball has been one of the most successful programs in all of Division III The Quakers have advanced to the NCAA Division III Tournament seventeen times and have won twenty or more games in a season sixteen times. In 2001, Earlham made its first appearance in the Sweet Sixteen and has been a regular contender for a National Championship ever since.

Earlham women’s basketball is currently coached by Kristin(Kris) Huffman. Huffman took over the reins of the program in 2007 and has led the Quakers to five consecutive appearances in the NCAA Division III Tournament. Under her leadership, Earlham has won two Heartland collegiate athletic conference (HCAC) championships and has been ranked as high as No. 2 in the nation.

The Coaches

Earlham College women’s basketball has been coached by some of the best in the business since the program’s inception in 1974.

Head Coach Kevin Barkley is in his 23rd season at the helm of the program and has led the Quakers to 21 winning seasons, eight trips to the NCAA Division III Tournament and one national semifinal appearance. He has been named the district’s Coach of the Year four times.

Barkley’s assistant coaches are just as accomplished. Kerry Prather is in her 10th season as an Assistant Coach and was a member of Earlham’s first women’s basketball team Amy Simpson is in her third season as an assistant coach after serving as Earlham’s head volleyball coach for 15 seasons.

The Players

Earlham Women’s Basketball has seen great success over the years, thanks in large part to the quality of its players. From All-Americans to academic standouts, Earlham has had a player suit up for almost every type of success.

All-Americans:
The Earlham women’s Basketball Program has produced 12 Kodak/WBCA All-Americans, 22 first team All-Americans, and 30 second team All-Americans.

Academic Standouts:
In addition to their athletic prowess, many Earlham women’s basketball players have also excelled in the classroom. The program has had 17 CoSIDA Academic All-Americans, and 41 first team Academic All-District selections.

The Championships

The Earlham College women’s Basketball team has a long legacy of success, winning an impressive 11 conference championships since 2001. The team has also qualified for the NCAA Division III tournament three times in the last 10 years, most recently in 2017. With a strong core of experienced players returning for the 18-19 season Earlham is poised to make another run at the conference title and beyond.

The Fans

Earlham women’s basketball has a long history of success, and the fans have played a big part in that. The team has won multiple conference championships and made several trips to the NCAA Division III tournament, including a run to the Sweet Sixteen in 2009. And while the team has had its share of great players and coaches, it’s the fans that have really made Earlham women’s basketball what it is today.

The fans are some of the most passionate and loyal in all of college basketball and they’ve been with the team through thick and thin. They’ve seen the highs and lows, and they’ve always been there to support their team. Whether it’s packing Gibson Gymnasium for a big game or following the team on the road, Earlham women’s basketball fans are some of the best in the business.

So if you’re looking for a place to catch some great college basketball this season, make sure to check out Earlham Women’s Basketball. You won’t be disappointed!

The Future

The Earlham College women’s basketball team has a long legacy of success, dating back to the early years of the program. Today, the team is poised for continued success, with a strong core of returning players and a promising freshman class. The future is bright for Earlham women’s basketball, and the team is poised to make more history in the years to come.

Conclusion

The Earlham College women’s Basketball Program has a rich tradition of success. The Quakers have won 11 Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) regular season titles and have appeared in the NCAA Division III tournament 11 times, including four trips to the Sweet Sixteen. Earlham has produced two HCAC Players of the Year, four All-Americans, and numerous Academic All-Americans. The Quakers have also been successful in the classroom, posting a team GPA of 3.0 or above in 19 of the last 20 years.

Earlham’s success on the court and in the classroom is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the student-athletes, coaches, and support staff. The Quakers are committed to competing at the highest level and preparing their student-athletes for success after graduation. Earlham is proud of its women’s basketball program and looks forward to continued success in the future.