WKU Women’s Basketball: A Look at the Team’s History
Contents
- WKU Women’s Basketball: A Look at the Team’s History
- WKU Women’s Basketball: A Look at the Team’s Beginnings
- WKU Women’s Basketball: A Look at the Team’s Early Success
- WKU Women’s Basketball: A Look at the Team’s Dominance in the 1990s
- WKU Women’s Basketball: A Look at the Team’s National Championships
- WKU Women’s Basketball: A Look at the Team’s All-Americans
- WKU Women’s Basketball: A Look at the Team’s Coaches
- WKU Women’s Basketball: A Look at the Team’s Rivalries
- WKU Women’s Basketball: A Look at the Team’s Future
- WKU Women’s Basketball: A Look at the Team’s Legacy
WKU Women’s Basketball is a NCAA Division I basketball team that has been around since 1969. The team has seen success in recent years making it to the NCAA tournament in 2016.
WKU Women’s Basketball: A Look at the Team’s History
In 1992, the Western Kentucky University Women’s Basketball team won the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship Since then, the team has gone on to have considerable success, including making it to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament in 2004. The team is currently coached by Michelle Clark-Heard and features a number of talented players. Let’s take a look at the history of this successful program.
The WKU Women’s basketball team has its roots in the early years of the school’s history. In 1903, just two years after the school was founded, a women’s Basketball team was formed. The team played its first game against Bowling Green High School winning 23-10. From there, the team went on to play a number of other local high schools and colleges.
In 1925, WKU was admitted to the Kentucky Collegiate Athletic Association (KIAA), which was formed in 1912 and was the first college Athletic Conference for women in the United States WKU quickly rose to prominence within the conference, winning six consecutive KIAA championships from 1926 to 1931. The team also had great success in the postseason, winning the Kentucky state championship in 1927 and 1928.
In 1949, WKU became a founding member of the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC), which is now one of the most competitive conferences in NCAA Division I women’s basketball. From 1957 to 1998, WKU won 18 OVC championships and made 11 appearances in the NCAA tournament In 1992, under Head Coach Paul Sanderford, WKU had its most successful season ever, finishing with a perfect 35-0 record and winning the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship The team featured several future stars, including Cathy Sweetser and Sam Delay.
Since that championship season in 1992, WKU has continued to be one of the top teams in NCAA Division I women’s basketball. The team has won 10 OVC championships since 1998 and made six appearances in the NCAA tournament since 2004. In recent years standouts such as Tia Gibbs and Ivy Brown have led WKU to new heights. With a tradition of excellence and a bright future ahead, there is no doubt that WKU Women’s Basketball is one of the best programs in collegiate athletics today.
WKU Women’s Basketball: A Look at the Team’s Beginnings
WKU women’s basketball can be traced back to the school’s intramural program in the 1920s. Participation peaked in the late 1960s with nearly 400 students playing on 58 teams. The popularity of women’s basketball at WKU led to the formation of a varsity team in 1970-71. The Lady Toppers played their first game on December 2, 1970, against Western Kentucky State College (now Kentucky State University). WKU won the game 72-64.
The Lady Toppers were members of the Ohio Valley Conference from 1977-1985 and then competed as an independent until joining Conference USA in 1995. WKU has won four conference championships three regular season (1992, 1993, 1994) and one tournament (2007). The Lady Toppers have made 12 NCAA tournament appearances with their most recent coming in 2012.
WKU Women’s Basketball: A Look at the Team’s Early Success
Since its inception in 1974, the Western Kentucky University women’s basketball team has had great success on the court. In their first season, the team went undefeated in conference play and won the conference championship They would go on to win the Conference Championship again in 1976 and 1977. The team also made it to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 1977.
In the early 1980s, the team continued to have success, winning the conference championship in 1981 and 1982. The team also made it back to the NCAA Tournament in 1981 and 1982. In 1983, the team made it to the Final Four for the first time in school history.
Since then, the team has made it back to the NCAA tournament several times and has won a number of conference championships. The team is currently coached by Greg repeated expansion will not be acceptedhttp://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/747/02/ Rice
WKU Women’s Basketball: A Look at the Team’s Dominance in the 1990s
WKU Women’s Basketball enjoyed a period of dominance in the 1990s, thanks in large part to the play of All-American Jenny Blevins.Blevins, who played for the Lady Toppers from 1993 to 1997, is WKU’s All-time leading scorer with 2,374 points. She is also the school’s career leader in steals (483) and blocks (250).
Under head coach Paul Sanderford, WKU won four consecutive Sun Belt Conference championships from 1993 to 1996 and made four straight NCAA Tournament appearances. The Lady Toppers also reached the Sweet 16 in 1995 and 1996.
In addition to Blevins, WKU had a number of other standouts in the 1990s, including point guard Natalia Rodriguez (1993-1997), shooting guard Lori Duncan (1992-1996) and center Crystal Kelly (1995-1999).
WKU was not able to sustain its success in the late 1990s and early 2000s, but the Lady Toppers have rebounded in recent years Under current Head Coach Michelle Clark-Heard, WKU has won two consecutive Conference USA titles and made back-to-back appearances in the NCAA Tournament
WKU Women’s Basketball: A Look at the Team’s National Championships
Since the team’s inception in 1974, the WKU Women’s basketball team has been one of the most successful in NCAA Division I basketball. The team has won four National Championships most recently in 2013. In addition to their national titles, the team has also been a runner-up five times and made the Final Four nine times. The team’s success is due in large part to their experienced and talented Coaching Staff led by Head coach Michelle Clark-Heard. Coach Clark-Heard has been with the team since 2011 and has led them to two national titles in that time.
The WKU Women’s basketball team is composed of some of the best players in the country. Their starting lineup includes seniors Tashia Brown and Dee Givens, junior Ivy Brown, and sophomores Sherry Porter and Raneem Elgadi. Brown, Givens, and Porter are all fifth-year seniors who have played integral roles on the team throughout their careers. Elgadi is a transfer from Vanderbilt who has quickly become one of the best players on the team. Ivy Brown is a talented freshman who has already made an impact on the court.
The WKU Women’s basketball team has a rich history of success and is poised to continue their winning ways for years to come.
WKU Women’s Basketball: A Look at the Team’s All-Americans
The Western Kentucky University women’s Basketball team has been home to many talented players over the years. Among them are three All-Americans: Cheryl Downs, Bria Gaines, and Casey Kasper.
Cheryl Downs was WKU’s first women’s basketball All-American, earning the honor in 1983. A 6’1″ center from Louisville, Kentucky, Downs was a force in the paint for the Lady Toppers. She finished her career with 1,805 points and 1,131 rebounds, both of which remain school records.
Bria Gaines followed in Downs’ footsteps, becoming WKU’s second women’s basketball All-American in 2009. A 6’0″ guard/forward from Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Gaines was a versatile player who could score from anywhere on the court. She finished her career with 2,075 points and 865 rebounds.
Casey Kasper became WKU’s third women’s basketball All-American in 2014. A 6’0″ forward from Cincinnati, Ohio, Kasper was a dominant presence in the post. She finish her career with 1,818 points and 933 rebounds
WKU Women’s Basketball: A Look at the Team’s Coaches
The Western Kentucky University women’s Basketball Team has had a long and successful history. The team has been coached by some of the most successful coaches in the game, and they have won numerous conference championships and NCAA tournament appearances. Let’s take a look at the team’s history through the eyes of its coaches.
Patty Gibbs was the team’s first head coach leading the Lady Toppers from 1982 to 1985. During her tenure, the team compiled a record of 65-24 and made two NCAA Tournament appearances. In 1984, the team won the Ohio Valley Conference championship and advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA tournament
In 1985, Barbara Young took over as head coach and led the team to a record of 131-76 over her six seasons. The Lady Toppers made five NCAA Tournament appearances under Young, including four straight from 1986 to 1989. In 1988, the team won the Ohio Valley Conference championship and advanced to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament
Tonya Layton became head coach in 1991 and led the team for two seasons. During her tenure, she compiled a record of 31-23 and led the Lady Toppers to one NCAA Tournament appearance. In 1992, Layton guided the team to a share of the Ohio Valley Conference regular season championship and an appearance in the NCAA tournament
Darlene May became head coach in 1993 and led Western Kentucky for eight seasons. She compiled a record of 152-118 during her tenure, leading the Lady Toppers to five NCAA tournament appearances. In 1996, May guided Western Kentucky to its first ever perfect conference record (16-0) and an appearance in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament
May was succeeded by Paul Sanderford, who served as head coach from 2001 to 2006. During his tenure, Sanderford compiled a record of 92-88 and led Western Kentucky to two NCAA Tournament appearances. In 2004, he guided the Lady Toppers to their second perfect conference record (16-0) and an appearance in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament
Currently, Michelle Clark-Heard is in her fourth season as Head Coach of Western Kentucky University women’s Basketball team She has amassed a 97-52 record during her time at Western Kentucky University thus far with three consecutive trips to postseason play including back-to-back trips (2016 & 2017) to The Big Dance – most recently defeating #5 seed Drake en route to The Second Round before falling short against #4 seed individuals will Clemson – becoming only WKU program history win two games each year in eitherThe National Invitational Tournament or The Women’s Basketball Invitational respectively with each invite coming consecutively under her watch as well..
WKU Women’s Basketball: A Look at the Team’s Rivalries
WKU women’s basketball has a long and storied history, full of rivalries with some of the best teams in the country. Here’s a look at some of the team’s most heated rivalries.
Louisville Cardinals WKU and Louisville have been rivals since the two teams first met on the court in 1977. The Cardinals have had the upper hand in recent years, but the Hilltoppers have won some big games against their rivals, including a 66-64 victory in 2009 that ended Louisville’s perfect season.
Kentucky Wildcats WKU and Kentucky have been playing each other since 1978, and though the Wildcats have had the majority of success in the series, the Hilltoppers have won some big games against their state rivals, including a 70-68 upset win in Lexington in 2007.
Tennessee Volunteers WKU and Tennessee have been playing each other since 1981, and though the Volunteers have had the majority of success in the series, the Hilltoppers have won some big games against their rivals, including a 78-77 upset win in Knoxville in 2006.
WKU Women’s Basketball: A Look at the Team’s Future
As the 2017-2018 season comes to a close, the WKU Women’s Basketball team is preparing for what lies ahead. The team has seen a lot of success in recent years, including making it to the NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen in 2016. With a young and talented squad, the future looks bright for WKU Women’s Basketball.
The team is led by head coach Michelle Clark-Heard, who is in her fifth season at WKU. Coach Clark-Heard has helped turn the program around, and she has the team poised for continued success in the years to come.
The core of the team is made up of junior forward Tia Gibbs and sophomore guard Dee Givens. Gibbs was named Conference USA Freshman of the Year in 2016 and was an All-Conference USA Honorable Mention last season. Givens is one of the best shooters in the country and was named to the Conference USA All-Freshman team last season. These two players will be key to the team’s success in the future.
The WKU Women’s basketball team has a bright future, and with a young and talented squad, they are poised for continued success in the years to come.
WKU Women’s Basketball: A Look at the Team’s Legacy
The Western Kentucky University Women’s Basketball Team has a long and proud history. The team has been competing since the early 1900s and has won numerous championships over the years. Today, the team is still one of the top programs in the country and is a perennial contender for the NCAA title. In this article, we will take a look at the team’s history and some of its most famous players.