Butler Bulldogs women's basketball

The Butler Bulldogs women's basketball team represents Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Big East after moving from the Atlantic 10 following the 2012–2013 season. The Bulldogs had competed in the Horizon since joining Division I competition in the 1986–1987 season.Butler Women's Basketball All-Time Results, retrieved 2011-Feb-22. The women’s basketball team began competing in the IAIAW in 1975–1976 under coach Xandra Hamilton and had their first winning season two years later, obtaining a 9–5 record under coach Linda Mason. The Bulldogs are currently coached by Maria Marchesano.

History The women's basketball program at Butler University began in the 1975–76 season, competing in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW). The Bulldogs' first winning season came two years later, earning a 9–5 record under the direction of coach Linda Mason. The Bulldogs played in the AIAW National Tournament for the first time in 1982, falling in the second round to William Penn, 77–94. The next season, 1982–83, the Bulldogs began competition at the NCAA Division II level, where they competed for four seasons until they joined the Horizon League and Division I competition for the 1986–87 season.

The Bulldogs qualified for Division I post-season play for the first time in 1993, competing in the WNIT under coach Paulette Stein, who revitalized the program following five losing records in six seasons in the late 1980s. Butler competed in the NCAA Division I women's basketball tournament for the first time in 1996 under coach June Olkowski, Butler's only coach to never record a losing season. Their last post-season appearance in the 1990s was in the WNIT in 1998.

The Bulldogs began a new era during the 2002–03 season, in which Beth Couture was hired as the Bulldogs' seventh head coach, a position she still holds. Couture is Butler's longest-serving head women's basketball coach. From her first season at Butler through the 2012–2013 season, she compiled a 178–158 record including four total and three consecutive WNIT appearances, and four consecutive 20-win seasons. Under Couture, Butler recorded a 23–10 mark in 2010, the most wins in team history, and recorded its first WNIT win in 2009 with a 59–58 victory over Duquesne on a layup with 2.2 seconds remaining in the game.

The 2013–14 season was the Bulldogs' third conference in as many years, as Coach Couture guided the team in its transition to the Big East Conference after a single season in the Atlantic Ten Conference. During that season, the Bulldogs posted an 8–6 conference record (17–14 overall), giving the team winning records in two conferences during Couture's tenure.

Records Team Points Points in a game: 116 — vs. Detroit, 1/30/99 Points in a season: 2,434 — 1992–93 Points per game: 78.5 — 1992–93 Total points in a game: 217 — Butler (116) vs. Detroit (101), 1/30/99

Rebounds Rebounds in a game: 68 — vs. Indianapolis, 2/8/83 Rebounds in a season: 1,256 — 1992–93 Rebounds per game: 43.7 — 1982–83

Field goals Field goals made in a game: 49 — vs. Southern Indiana, 1/28/83 Field goals made in a season: 878 — 1992–93 Field goals attempted in a game: 95 — vs. Southern Indiana, 1/28/83 Field goals attempted in a season: 1,947 — 1992–93 Field goal percentage in a half: .909 — vs. Vanderbilt, 2nd half (20–22), 11/24/90 Field goal percentage in a game: .659 — vs. Vanderbilt (31–47), 11/24/90 Field goal percentage in a season: .480 — 1982–83 (786–1638) 3-point field goals made in a game: 15 — vs. Milwaukee, 2/22/07 3-point field goals made in a season: 260 — 2006–07 3-point field goals attempted in a game: 36 — vs. Green Bay, 1/25/07 3-point field goals attempted in a season: 711 — 2006–07 3-point field goal percentage in a game (min. 10 attempts): .700 — vs. Loyola (7–10), 1/6/96 3-point field goal percentage in a season: .393 — 2005–06 (223–567)

Free throws Free throws made in a game: 42 — vs. Radford, 11/29/97 Free throws made in a season: 659 — 1997–98 Free throws attempted in a game: 50 vs. UIC, 2/1/96 vs. Radford, 11/29/97 Free throws attempted in a season: 864 — 1997–98 Free throw percentage in a game (min. 10 attempts): 1.000 — vs. Xavier (13–13), 2/23/91 Free throw percentage in a season: .771— 1998–99 (512–664)

Overall Wins in a season: 26 — 1980–81 (26–2) Consecutive victories: 23 — 1978–79

Individual Single-game Points: 37 Sarah Bolten vs. Bowling Green, 12/4/01 Elza Purvlicis vs. St. Joseph’s (Ind.), 1/24/84 Rebounds: 26, Elza Purvlicis vs. Indiana Central, 2/8/83 Assists: 14 Melissa Kilgore vs. Marian, 1/14/86 Barb Skinner vs. Wright State, 2/5/83 Field goals made: 16, Elza Purvlicis vs. St. Joseph’s (Ind.), 1/24/84 Field goals attempted: 32, Barb Skinner vs. Dayton, 3/2/83 Field goal percentage (min. 7 made): 1.000 (13–13), Alexis Proffitt vs. Milwaukee, 2/6/97 (11–11), Chloe Hamilton vs. Green Bay, 1/27/11 (8–8), Kelly Kuhn vs. Wright State, 2/20/99 (7–7), Melanie Thornton vs. Cleveland State, 1/14/10 (7–7), Beth Piepenbrink vs. Eastern Illinois, 2/24/83 (7–7), Liesl Schultz vs. Maryland, 12/29/94 3-point field goals made: 7 Jackie Closser at Green Bay, 3/11/07 Jackie Closser vs. Wright State, 2/3/07 Alyssa Pittman at Dayton, 12/21/09 Maria Marchesano vs. Wright State, 2/27/02 3-point field goal attempts: 16, Lisa Pryor vs. Milwaukee, 1/25/03 3-point field goal percentage (min. 4 made): 1.000 (4–4), Ellen Hamilton at Eastern Illinois, 11/30/05 (4–4), Ellen Hamilton vs. Central Florida, 11/25/05 (4–4), Jackie Closser vs. Austin Peay, 11/26/04 (4–4), Maria Marchesano vs. UIC, 2/12/04 (4–4), Jackie Closser vs. UIC, 2/21/04 (4–4), Debbie Benziger vs. Wright State, 2/16/96 (4–4), Sarah Hurrle vs. Milwaukee, 2/6/97 (4–4), Jennifer Marlow vs. Bowling Green, 3/13/98 (4–4), Pam Schiefelbein vs. Detroit, 1/18/88 (4–4), Candace Jones vs. UIC, 1/12/08 Free throws made: 15, Julie VonDielingen vs. Loyola, 2/28/91 Free throw attempts: 20, Lade Akande at Cleveland State, 12/28/06 Free throw percentage (min. 11 made): 1.000 (13–13), Shelley Roby vs. Evansville, 2/20/88 (12–12), Jackie Closser vs. UIC, 3/9/07 (12–12), Jackie Closser at Detroit, 1/18/07 (12–12), Jackie Closser at Detroit, 2/6/06 (12–12), Julie VonDielingen vs. Valparaiso, 12/4/90 (11–11), Kelly Kuhn vs. Cleveland State, 1/28/99 (11–11), Julie VonDielingen vs. Houston, 1/2/93 (11–11), Julie VonDielingen vs. Loyola, 2/6/93 (11–11), Julie VonDielingen vs. Marquette, 2/2/91 Steals: 12, Jenna Cobb vs. Loyola, 2/16/12 Blocked shots: 10, Kelly Kuhn vs. Brown, 12/3/00

Season Points: 622, Julie VonDielingen, 1992–93 Scoring average: 20.2, Julie VonDielingen, 1990–91 Rebounds: 302, Beth Piepenbrink, 1981–82 Rebounding average: 13.7, Elza Purvlicis, 1983–84 Assists: 195, Melissa Kilgore, 1987–88 Assist average: 7.6, Barb Skinner, 1982–83 Field goals made: 233, Julie VonDielingen, 1992–93 Field goal attempts: 450, Julie VonDielingen, 1992–93 Field goal percentage: .655 (55–84), Liesl Schultz, 1991–92 3-point field goals made: 85, Jackie Closser, 2006–07 3-point field goal attempts: 227, Jackie Closser, 2006–07 3-point field goal percentage: .517 (45–87), Jennifer Marlow, 1997–98 Free throws made: 151, Julie VonDielingen, 1990–91 Free throw attempts: 191, Sarah Schuetz, 1997–98 Free throw percentage: .923 (72–78), Debbie Benziger, 1997–98 Steals: 118, Liz Skinner, 1980–81 Blocked shots: 103, Liesl Schultz, 1994–95 Minutes played: 1,148, Jackie Closser, 2006–07

Career Points: 2,018, Julie VonDielingen, 1989–93 Scoring average: 18.0, Julie VonDielingen, 1990–93 Rebounds: 1,050, Elza Purvlicis, 1980–84 Rebounding average: 11.4, Elza Purvlicis, 1981–84 Assists: 584, Melissa Kilgore, 1985–88 Assist average: 5.5, Melissa Kilgore, 1985–88 Field goals made: 744, Julie VonDielingen, 1989–93 Field goal attempts: 1,442, Barb Skinner, 1980–83 Field goal percentage: .600 (404–673), Liesl Schultz, 1992–95 3-point field goals made: 271, Jackie Closser, 2004–07 3-point field goal attempts: 697, Jackie Closser, 2003–07 3-point field goal percentage: .443 (128–289), Jennifer Marlow, 1995–99 Free throws made: 518, Julie VonDielingen, 1990–93 Free throw attempts: 643, Julie VonDielingen, 1990–93 Free throw percentage: .841 (280–333), Jackie Closser, 2004–07 Steals: 419, Liz Skinner, 1979–82 Blocked shots: 254, Liesl Schultz, 1992–95 Minutes played: 3,751, Jackie Closser, 2004–07

Year by year results

Postseason results

NCAA Division I tournament results The Bulldogs have appeared in one NCAA tournament. Their record is 0–1. 1996 #15 First Round Iowa L 67–72

NCAA Division II tournament results The Bulldogs made one appearance in the NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament. They had a combined record of 0–1. 1983 First Round Dayton L, 69–71

WNIT results The Bulldogs have appeared in eight Women's National Invitation Tournaments. Their combined record is 7–9. Year Round Opponent Result/Score 1993 First RoundConsolation Second RoundConsolation Third Round Florida InternationalUNLVNorthwestern L 75–79 (OT)W 74–71 L 85–89 1998 First RoundSecond Round Bowling GreenLSU W 95–90 L 58–74 2009 First RoundSecond Round DuquesneMarquette W 59–58 L 49–58 2010 First Round Illinois State L 54–57 2011 First Round Wisconsin L 48–68 2019 First RoundSecond RoundThird Round NortheasternKent StateCincinnati W 89–72 W 70–52L 65–72 2024 First RoundSecond Round Bowling GreenPurdue W 75–63 L 62–51 2025 Second RoundSuper 16 UICPurdue Fort Wayne W 61–54 L 87–61

Awards Horizon League Women's Basketball Coach of the Year 1989–90 – Paulette Stein 1992–93 – Paulette Stein 1994–95 – June Olkowski 1995–96 – June Olkowski 1997–98 – June Olkowski

Horizon League Women's Basketball Player of the Year 1992–93 – Julie Von Dielingen 1997–98 – Sarah Schuetz 2009–10 – Melanie Thornton

First Team All-League 1989–90 – Julie Von Dielingen 1990–91 – Julie Von Dielingen 1991–92 – Julie Von Dielingen 1992–93 – Julie Von Dielingen 1994–95 – Liesl Schultz 1996–97 – Sarah Schuetz 1997–98 – Jennifer Marlow 1997–98 – Sarah Schuetz 1998–99 – Jennifer Marlow 2003–04 – Nancy Bowden 2005–06 – Jackie Closser 2006–07 – Jackie Closser 2007–08 – Lade Akande 2009–10 – Melanie Thornton 2009–10 – Brigid Mulroy

Second Team All-League 1986–87 – Martha Kondalski 1987–88 – Martha Kondalski 1987–88 – Pam Schiefelbein 1988–89 – Martha Kondalski 1992–93 – Mary Majewski 1993–94 – Liesl Schultz 1995–96 – Debbie Benziger 1996–97 – Jennifer Marlow 1996–97 – Alexis Proffitt 1998–99 – Sarah Hurrle 1999-00 – Kristen Bodine 2000–01 – Kelly Kuhn 2005–06 – Lade Akande 2006–07 – Lade Akande 2010–11 – Chloe Hamilton 2010–11 – Brittany Bowen 2011–12 – Sarah Hamm

Horizon League Women's Basketball Newcomer of the Year 1989–90 – Julie Von Dielingen 1990–91 – Angela Cotton

Horizon League All-Newcomer Team 1989–90 – Mary Majewski 1989–90 – Julie Von Dielingen 1990–91 – Angela Cotton 1991–92 – Lynn Bihn 1995–96 – Jennifer Marlow 1996–97 – Sarah Hurrle 1997–98 – Lori Ives 1998–99 – Kristen Bodine 1998–99 – Kelly Kuhn 1999-00 – Valerie Burg 2001–02 – Maria Marchesano 2003–04 – Ellen Hamilton 2004–05 – Cassie Freeman 2005–06 – Lade Akande 2006–07 – Susan Lester 2009–10 – Alyssa Pittman

Horizon League Tournament MVP 1995–96 – Debbie Benziger

Horizon League All-Tournament Team 1989–90 – Mary Majewski 1989–90 – Shelly Roby 1990–91 – Brandi Kimble 1990–91 – Julie Von Dielingen 1991–92 – Lynn Bihn 1991–92 – Julie Von Dielingen 1992–93 – Mary Majewski 1992–93 – Julie Von Dielingen 1995–96 – Debbie Benziger 1995–96 – Alexis Proffitt 1997–98 – Jennifer Marlow 1997–98 – Sarah Schuetz 2003–04 – Nancy Bowden 2005–06 – Lade Akande 2006–07 – Jackie Closser 2009–10 – Melanie Thornton 2009–10 – Susan Lester 2010–11 – Brittany Bowen

Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year 2009–10 – Melanie Thornton

Horizon League All-Defensive Team First awarded in 1995–96 1995–96 – Sarah Schuetz 1996–97 – Sarah Schuetz 1997–98 – Sarah Schuetz 1998–99 – Sarah Schuetz 2001–02 – Nancy Bowden