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Butler Bulldogs
2024–25 Butler Bulldogs women's basketball team
UniversityButler University
Head coachAustin Parkinson (3rd season)
ConferenceBig East
LocationIndianapolis, Indiana
ArenaHinkle Fieldhouse
(capacity: 9,100)
NicknameBulldogs
Student sectionDawg Pound
ColorsBlue and white[1]
   
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away


NCAA tournament appearances
1996
Conference tournament champions
1996 (MCC)
Conference regular season champions
1993, 1998

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.[2] The Bulldogs had competed in the Horizon since joining Division I competition in the 1986–1987 season.[3] 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.[3] The Bulldogs are currently coached by Austin Parkinson.

History

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The women's basketball program at Butler University began in the 1975–76 season, competing in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW).[3] 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.[3]

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.[3] 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.[3]

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.[3][4][5]

The 2013–14 season will see the Bulldogs' third conference in as many years as Coach Couture guides the team in transitioning to the Big East from its only season in the Atlantic Ten. 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.[3]

Records

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Team

[edit]

Points

[edit]
  • 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

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  • 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

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  • 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

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  • 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

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

Individual

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Single-game

[edit]
  • 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

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  • 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

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  • 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

Postseason

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NCAA Division I tournament results

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The Bulldogs have appeared in one NCAA tournament. Their record is 0–1.

Year Seed Round Opponent Result
1996 #15 First Round Iowa L 67–72

NCAA Division II tournament results

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The Bulldogs made one appearance in the NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament. They had a combined record of 0–1.

Year Round Opponent Result
1983 First Round Dayton L, 69–71

WNIT results

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The Bulldogs have appeared in seven Women's National Invitation Tournaments. Their combined record is 6–8.

Year Round Opponent Result/Score
1993 First Round
Consolation Second Round
Consolation Third Round		 Florida International
UNLV
Northwestern		 L 75–79 (OT)
W 74–71
L 85–89
1998 First Round
Second Round		 Bowling Green
LSU		 W 95–90
L 58–74
2009 First Round
Second Round		 Duquesne
Marquette		 W 59–58
L 49–58
2010 First Round Illinois State L 54–57
2011 First Round Wisconsin L 48–68
2019 First Round
Second Round
Third Round		 Northeastern
Kent State
Cincinnati		 W 89–72
W 70–52
L 65–72
2024 First Round
Second Round		 Bowling Green
Purdue		 W 75–63
L 62–51

Awards

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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
  • 2002–03 – Nancy Bowden
  • 2003–04 – Nancy Bowdrn
  • 2003–04 – Angel Mason
  • 2004–05 – Cortney Urquhart
  • 2008–09 – Melanie Thornton
  • 2009–10 – Melanie Thornton
  • 2011–12 – Jenna Cobb

Notable players

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  • Melani Thornton (Class of 2012) – Plays professionally in Brașov, Romania, for the BC Olimpia Brașov women's basketball team.
  • Brittany Bowen (Class of 2011) – Played professionally in Horsens, Denmark, for the Horsens Pirates.
  • Susan Lester (Class of 2010) – Plays professionally in Edirne, Turkey, for the Edirne Spor women's basketball team.
  • Courtney Urquhart (Class of 2005) – Played professionally in Martigny, Switzerland, for the Ovronnaz-Martigny women's basketball team.
  • Angel Mason (Class of 2004) – Played professionally in Reykjavik, Iceland, for team IS.

Yearly records

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Statistics overview
Season Coach Overall Conference Standing Postseason
Xandra Hamilton (Independent) (1975–1976)
1975–76 Xandra Hamilton 1–9
Xandra Hamilton: 1–9 (.100)
Linda Mason (Independent) (1976–1984)
1976–77 Linda Mason 2–9
1977–78 Linda Mason 9–5
1978–79 Linda Mason 23–1
1979–80 Linda Mason 21–1
1980–81 Linda Mason 26–2
1981–82 Linda Mason 23–3
1982–83 Linda Mason 18–6
1983–84 Linda Mason 2–20
Linda Mason: 124–47 (.725)
Russ Sarfaty (Horizon League) (1984–1988)
1984–85 Russ Sarfaty 4–24 1–13 (NSC)
1985–86 Russ Sarfaty 4–23 1–13 (NSC)
1986–87 Russ Sarfaty 10–17 3–9 T-5th
1987–88 Russ Sarfaty 14–12 5–5 T-3rd
Russ Sarfaty: 32–76 (.296) 10–40 (.200)
Paulette Stein (Horizon League) (1988–1993)
1988–89 Paulette Stein 9–17 3–11 7th
1989–90 Paulette Stein 20–9 12–4 2nd
1990–91 Paulette Stein 21–8 10–6 T-2nd
1991–92 Paulette Stein 14–15 5–7 5th
1992–93 Paulette Stein 23–8 14–2 1st WNIT
Paulette Stein: 85–57 (.604) 44–30 (.595)
June Olkowski (Horizon League) (1993–1999)
1993–94 June Olkowski 13–13 6–6 5th
1994–95 June Olkowski 21–6 12–2 2nd
1995–96 June Olkowski 21–9 13–3 2nd NCAA First Round
1996–97 June Olkowski 17–11 12–4 2nd
1997–98 June Olkowski 25–6 13–1 1st WNIT Second Round
1998–99 June Olkowski 17–11 9–5 3rd
June Olkowski: 114–56 (.671) 65–21 (.756)
Wendy Gatlin (Horizon League) (1999–2002)
1999-00 Wendy Gatlin 10–16 6–8 5th
2000–01 Wendy Gatlin 8–20 3–11 T-7th
2001–02 Wendy Gatlin 3–26 1–15 9th
Wendy Gatlin: 21–62 (.253) 10–34 (.227)
Beth Couture (Horizon League) (2002–2012)
2002–03 Beth Couture 6–23 3–13 T-8th
2003–04 Beth Couture 14–15 9–7 T-4th
2004–05 Beth Couture 14–14 8–8 5th
2005–06 Beth Couture 15–14 9–7 4th
2006–07 Beth Couture 16–15 11–5 T-2nd
2007–08 Beth Couture 20–10 10–8 T-4th
2008–09 Beth Couture 20–12 14–4 2nd WNIT Second Round
2009–10 Beth Couture 23–10 14–4 T-2nd WNIT First Round
2010–11 Beth Couture 20–14 12–6 T-2nd WNIT First Round
2011–12 Beth Couture 13–17 9–9 5th
Horizon League: 226–195 (.537)
Beth Couture (Atlantic 10 Conference) (2012–2013)
2012–13 Beth Couture 17–14 8–6 6th WNIT First Round
Atlantic 10: 8–6 (.571)
Beth Couture (Big East Conference) (2013–2014)
2013–14 Beth Couture 15–16 10–8 6th WNIT First Round
Beth Couture: 193–174 (.526) 99–71 (.582) Horizon
8–6 (.571) Atlantic 10
10–8 (.556) Big East
Kurt Godlevske (Big East Conference) (2014–2022)
2014–15 Kurt Godlevske 14–16 10–8 6th
2015–16 Kurt Godlevske 10–21 4–14 9th
2016–17 Kurt Godlevske 6–25 2–16 10th
2017–18 Kurt Godlevske 15–17 6–12 8th
2018–19 Kurt Godlevske 23–10 11–7 3rd WNIT Third Round
2019–20 Kurt Godlevske 19–11 11–7 5th
2020–21 Kurt Godlevske 3–17 3–15 10th
2021–22 Kurt Godlevske 1–27 0–18 11th
Kurt Godlevske: 91–144 (.387) 47–97 (.326) Big East
Austin Parkinson (Big East Conference) (2022–present)
2022–23 Austin Parkinson 11–19 6–14 8th
2023–24 Austin Parkinson 15–17 6–12 8th WNIT Second Round
Austin Parkinson: 26–36 (.419) 12–26 (.316) Big East
Big East: 69–131 (.345)
Total: 687–661 (.510)

      National champion         Postseason invitational champion  
      Conference regular season champion         Conference regular season and conference tournament champion
      Division regular season champion       Division regular season and conference tournament champion
      Conference tournament champion

References

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  1. ^ Butler Athletics Visual Identity Guide (PDF). 29 November 2020. Retrieved 14 October 2022.
  2. ^ "Butler to compete in Atlantic 10 a year ahead of schedule". Indianapolis Star. Gannett. Retrieved 29 May 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Butler Women's Basketball All-Time Results, retrieved 2011-Feb-22.
  4. ^ "Beth Couture – Profile". Butlersports.com. Butler University. 2011. Archived from the original on 18 August 2011. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
  5. ^ "Bulldogs Take 3–0 Record Into Cleveland State Game". Butlersports.com. Butler University. February 2011. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
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