6.3.2012 |
FARMVILLE, Va. -- It was the mid-1990's … the academic years 1994-95, 1995-96, and 1996-97 to be exact. A movie ticket cost $4 in 1994. A truck bomb at the Oklahoma City Federal Building in 1995 resulted in 168 deaths. Ebay started its online auction and shopping website in 1996. Tiger Woods became the youngest golfer to win the Masters at age 21 in 1997. Top musicians during that period included Pearl Jam, Alanis Morissette, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Hanson. Top films of the period were Titantic, Independence Day, Toy Story, Forest Gump, and The Lion King. William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton was serving his first of two terms as the 42nd President of the United States. Those were also the years that
Longwood advanced to three-straight NCAA Division II Tournaments. The sport: Women's Basketball.The 1994-95 Women's Basketball Team posted the program's first-ever 20-win season, finishing 21-8 while earning the sport's first invitation to the Division II Tournament. Coached by head coach Shirley Duncan, the Lancers hosted their first-round contest March 8 against Presbyterian (S.C.) and defeated the Blue Hose 78-72 in Willett Hall. Longwood dropped its South Atlantic Regional semifinal March 10 versus South Carolina-Spartanburg 73-53 in Norfolk. The Lancers posted winning streaks of six and five games each that season, and were led by redshirt-senior guard Cassie Ensley (16.0 points, 4.3 assists, 4.0 rebounds).
The 1995-96 Women's Basketball Team posted another 20-win season to go back-to-back, finishing one better at 22-7 while earning a second-straight invite to the Division II Tournament. It was also the program's first year as members of the Carolinas-Virginia Athletic Conference (CVAC), and Coach Duncan's squad finished a perfect 18-0 en route to a CVAC regular season championship. The Lancers dropped their East Regional first-round contest March 7 versus Salem-Teikyo (W.Va.) 86-55 in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. Longwood posted a school-record 19-game winning streak that season, and was led by junior guard Nikki Hall (16.0 points, 5.1 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 3.3 steals).
The 1996-97 Women's Basketball Team posted the third-straight 20-win season at the time, finishing 25-5 while earning the third consecutive invitation to the Division II Tournament. It was also the program's second-straight CVAC regular season title (18-2) under the guidance of Coach Duncan, and the 25 wins are still second best in history. Once again, however, the Lancers dropped their East Regional first-round contest in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania – this time on March 6 versus High Point 80-64. Longwood posted an 11-game winning streak that season, and was (again) led by senior guard Nikki Hall (15.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4.0 assists).
Team members included Mary Barron (1995-97), Claudia Blauvelt (1994-96), Amy Bradley (1994-96), Emily Brown (1996-97), Kali Brown (1996-97), Shawna Donivan (1994-96), Cassie Ensley (1994-95), Valerie Firth (1994-97), Nikki Hall (1994-97), Kirsten Hillgaard (1994-95), Nikesha Houston (1996-97), Shannon Lovelace (1994-95), Aisha Mallet (1995-96), Charity Owens (1994-96), Sara Philbrick (1994-95), Nee Ragland (1994-97), Christine Roberts (1994-97), Ginger Sullenberger (1994-95), Cessy Sullivan (1995-97), Ashley Weaver (1995-97), and Jill Younce (1996-97). This group combined for the best three-year run in the program's history while posting a record of 68-20, including two years in the CVAC at 36-2.
Ensley was an honorable mention All-American in 1995, while Hall garnered honorable mention All-America honors in both 1996 and 1997. Ensley was also a 1995 CoSIDA Academic All-America 1st-Team selection, while Hall was also a 1997 CoSIDA Academic All-America 2nd-Team choice. In addition, Hall was the 1997 CVAC Player of the Year and Murphy Osborne Award winner – the league's highest academic honor. Ragland was an All-CVAC 2nd-Team designee in 1996. Coach Duncan was the 1995 VaSID State Coach of the Year, the 1996 CVAC Coach of the Year, and the 1997 WBCA Regional Coach of the Year. She was assisted during each of the three seasons by assistant coach Loretta Coughlin.
