BASKETBALL HISTORY EARLY ORIGINS
Women’s basketball has been a part of the fabric of the University of Arkansas for almost a century. Teams of female students took to outdoor courts and peach baskets just after the turn of the century. While the women waited until 1976 for the first varsity team to officially represent the University, these early photos show how the game captured what was then deemed “the fairer sex” in action.
THE FIRST TEAM
As the photo at right illustrates, almost since the turn of the century, women have banded together to play basketball at the University of Arkansas. In fact, yearbook references to women’s basketball predate men’s basketball at Arkansas. There are photographs of at least three teams of women’s basketball players prior to 1910. From the 1930s until the late 1950s, some of the nation’s best AAU players and teams came from the state of Arkansas. After years of “extramural” women’s basketball in the late 1960s and early 1970s at the University, the first varsity Razorback basketball team took the court in Barnhill Arena in 1976-77. Under Coach Sharon Ogle, these Razorbacks established the winning tradition at Arkansas with a 10-6 season. Composed of walk-ons, the 1976-77 team was undefeated in Barnhill Arena (6-0) and set a school record for largest margin of victory that may never be broken—79 points— with a 108-29 win over Bartlesville Wesleyan. Three walk-ons received aid to become the first scholarship women at Arkansas: Camille Yancey of Marvel, Pat Keck from Rogers, and Carol Ann Riggs of Fayetteville.
IN THE BROYLES TRADITION
The next season, the University of Arkansas awarded its first women’s athletic scholarship to a freshman recruit. A local basketball star at Fayetteville High, Betsy Broyles, became the first Razorback high school recruit, one of 10 women recruited during the 1977-78 season. Wearing No. 30 for Arkansas, Betsy, daughter of former athletic director Frank Broyles, had her playing career cut short by an injury, but she did letter two seasons at Arkansas.
Arkansas’ FIRST SUPERSTAR
national title for a women’s squad at Arkansas. Arkansas averaged over 100 points per game for the tournament, crushing California, 112-80, in the championship game.
“DIALING” FOR TROPHIES
Arkansas and the Dial Soap Women’s Basketball Classic series had a long, distinguished history. The Dial Classics were the longestrunning series in women’s hoops. Arkansas had the unofficial distinction of winning more Dial trophies than any team starting in Minnesota. In fact, the Razorbacks played in eight different Dial tournaments in eight seasons, winning trophies in six. This past record combined with increasing promotions led to Arkansas receiving the right to host one of the coveted tournaments, bringing the Dial series to Fayetteville in 1991 (photo above) until the series was disbanded in 1997.
THE SHOTS HEARD ‘ROUND THE WORLD
On Feb. 23, 1990, Arkansas ended the longest conference winning streak in NCAA history by defeating the Texas Lady Longhorns, 8277. The win broke UT’s 183-game streak against Southwest Conference foes, and cleared the way for the first non-Texas SWC women’s basketball titlist. It also ended the nation’s longest active home win streak at 47 games. Senior guard Juliet Jackson, who hit six free throws in the closing minute to clinch the game, summed it up best: “We messed up all their streaks.” The next week junior center Delmonica DeHorney was named Sports Illustrated women’s college basketball player of the week.
ONLY SWC WOMEN’S TROPHIES OUTSIDE THE LONE STAR STATE
Arkansas was the first team to beat Texas and the first team to win a share, then later an outright, Southwest Conference championship besides the Lady Longhorns. In 1991, Arkansas also ended the Lone Star state’s dominance of the SWC tournament by defeating Texas Tech for the title. These three trophies—the 1990 and 1991 SWC Championship and 1991 SWC Classic—are the only women’s basketball trophies in captivity outside the state of Texas.
Wynne, Arkansas’, Bettye Fiscus arrived at the University in 1981, and Razorback basketball was never the same. Fiscus set the University record for scoring—man or woman—at 2,073 as Arkansas’ first All-American. While NBA star Todd Day finally broke Fiscus’ scoring mark, she still holds almost all the women’s basketball career scoring records. Her jersey—No. 5—was the first retired by the University, receiving that honor in 1986.
FIRST NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
A senior-laden Razorback club that had advanced to the NCAA Tournament in 1986 received the snub of the committee in 1987. Behind co-captain guard Tracy Webb, the 1986-87 team wrecked its vengeance on the National Women’s Invitational Tournament, sweeping through the postseason tournament to bring home the first team
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