OSU
Sports History Minute - January 26, 2001
Part
2 of 20: Hill and Menken - A Winning Combination
The emergence of women's varsity athletics at OSU
in the 1970s quickly led to national prominence
in basketball, thanks to the remarkable talents
of head coach Aki Hill and center Carol Menken.
Coach Hill's 1979 team, led by 6-4 Menken from Jefferson,
Ore., finished the regular season 12-5, then upset
heavily favored Oregon 75-68 to win the Region 9
Tournament.
Above: Coach Aki Hill directs her
team during a game in 1981.
Right: Carol Menken out-leaps her
University of Washington opponent to grab
a rebound during the 1980 basketball season.
Both photos from The Beaver. |
 |
|
This was one of the historic wins in OSU history.
The Ducks were an astonishing 21-0, taking two from
the Beavers during the regular season. But this time
Menken scored 35 and Hill's defensive scheme worked
to perfection to ensure the remarkable victory.
In 1980, OSU lost early in the regionals but got a
bid to the women's NIT in Amarillo, Texas. The Beavers
raced through the competition with wins over Mississippi
College, Drake and North Carolina (71-62) to win the
championship. Menken returned to campus with 26 points
and 17 rebounds in the final game and, best of all,
the tournament MVP trophy
By the final game of the 1981 season, against the
Ducks, OSU had lost six straight to UO. In the tournament,
the Beaver women stopped Montana and Washington State
to have another shot at the Lemon-Yellow for the championship.
Senior Menken came through again, helping her team
with 38 points for a 61-54 victory. She also scored
another tournament MVP trophy.
Even though UCLA toppled OSU in the next round, the
team finished the campaign with a fine 21-6 record
and Kodak All-American honors for Menken. She also
led the nation in scoring that year with a 29.6 per
game average.
In 1984, Menken led the U.S. women to Olympic gold
in basketball.
-- George
Edmonston, Jr. and Chuck Boice |
