Teams

1997-98 Illinois Central College Women’s Team

Year Inducted8: 2002

Category: Teams

Schools / Organizations: Illinois Central College

Head Coach:  Lorene Ramsey

Team Record:  30-5 (NJCAA Division II National Champions)

Biography:

The 1997-98 Illinois Central College (30-5) women’s basketball team won its third NJCAA Division II national championship by defeating Penn Valley Community College 73-65 in the title game. The Cougars overcame a 13-point deficit in the final seven minutes of the first game of the tournament to beat Kirkwood Community College in a thriller, 71-70.

On a team with 10 freshmen, sophomore point guard Kelli Ryan and Bekah Dancey exhibited great leadership. The team really gelled at season’s end and won its last 11 games. Pauline Harris set a record with 22 rebounds in a game.

Illinois Central placed three players on the first team all-National Tournament team in Ryan, Marlena Williams and Beth Zeone. Williams was the tournament MVP. Ryan was selected as an NJCAA first-team All-American and Williams was a third-team All-American.

Picture Identifications:

Front Row (L-R): Elena Karama, Beth Zeone, Kelli Ryan, Bekah Dancey, Taneisha Jackson, Jenni Burke, Lindsey Mulally, Assistant coach Marla Eltrevoog.

Back Row (L-R): Associate Coach Tom McGhee, Head Coach Lorene Ramsey, Pauline Harris, Iesha Jones, Alexandra Kouznetsova, Jenelle Halm, Marlena Williams, Vanessa Watson, Marti Davis, Assistant Coach Steve Garber.