# Butler Bulldogs women's basketball

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

## History

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

## Records
### Team
#### Points

* 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

* 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

* 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

* 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

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

### Individual
#### Single-game

* 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

* 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

* 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
### NCAA Division I tournament results

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

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

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

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

* 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

Statistics overview :
| Season | Coach | Overall | Conference | Standing | Postseason |
| Xandra Hamilton (Independent) (1975–1976) ||||||
| 1975–76 | Xandra Hamilton | 1–9 | | | |
| Xandra Hamilton: | 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: | 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: | 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: | 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: | 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: | 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: | 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: | 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: | 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: | 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: | Austin Parkinson: | 26–36 (.419) | 12–26 (.316) Big East | | |
| Big East: | Big East: | | 69–131 (.345) | | |
| Total: | 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 ||||||