NAMPA, Idaho – The Northwest Nazarene University Department of Athletics will induct the 1997 Women's Basketball National Championship Team into the NNU Athletic Hall of Fame at halftime of the women's basketball Hall of Fame Game on Friday evening.
“We are very excited to welcome our national championship team back on campus,” commented NNU Athletic Director Rich Sanders. “We look forward to honoring them this weekend and catching up with them and their families.”
Induction will take place at halftime of the Hall of Fame Game against Lewis & Clark College with tip-off scheduled for 5:00 p.m. The public is welcome to join the team at a reception in the Ferdinand Hospitality Suite following the ceremony.
The Ferdinand Hospitality Suite is located on the second level of the Johnson Sports Center, overlooking Orrin Hills Center Court.
About the team…
The 1996-97 NNU women's basketball team finished the season 27-7 overall, 10-2 in Cascade Collegiate Conference play and captured the first national team championship in NNU history.
The team defeated Western Baptist College 71-58 on March 3, 1997 to capture the CCC Championship and the automatic berth in the NAIA Division II National Tournament. Facing Dominican College in the first round, Erica Walton scored 20 points to lead the Crusaders to a 98-48 blowout victory to open tournament play on March 12th.
With a day of rest the Crusaders faced Austin College. Ellen Duncan scored 20 points and the Crusaders edged Austin 74-72 in what would be the closest game of the tournament for NNU. St. Francis College was the Crusaders third-round victim, falling 97-76 to the Crusaders, led by Kari Smith's 23 points.
Doane College was the target in the national semi-finals. Erica Walton again led the NNU attack with 26 points to help produce an 86-80 victory and a berth in the national championship game. Facing Black Hills State on March 18th, the Crusaders' Staci Wilson produced a double-double performance of 22 points and 13 rebounds enabling NNU to capture their first national championship with a 64-46 victory.
National honors went to two members of the championship team and head coach Roger Schmidt.
Erica Walton was named the NAIA National Tournament MVP, 1st-team all-tournament team member and an NAIA Honorable Mention All-American. She averaged 15.3 points and 6.1 rebounds per game.
Kari Smith was named to the NAIA National Tournament 1st-team all-tournament team and an NAIA Honorable Mention All-American. She averaged 14.2 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.
Roger Schmidt was named the 1996-97 NAIA National Women's Coach of the Year.
All four seniors on the championship team (Ellen Duncan, Jennifer Myers, Kari Smith and Erica Walton) had the distinction of playing in two NAIA Division II National Championship games during their careers. Finishing as NAIA Division II national runner-up in 1995 and winning the 1997 NAIA Division II National Championship.
