[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 76 (Tuesday, May 9, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6300-S6301]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


  TRIBUTE TO THE NORTH DAKOTA STATE UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM

  Mr. DORGAN. Madam President, I want to take some time today to 
belatedly honor the North Dakota State University women's basketball 
team. Outside of North Dakota, most people probably don't know that 
this team won the NCAA division II national championship. Not only did 
they win it this year, but the Bison women have won this honor for 3 
straight years. I think they deserve some national recognition.
  The NDSU women had the additional honor of being the first ever 
division II women's team to make it through a season undefeated. This 
remarkable team ended its season 32-0, and they did it by focusing on 
one game at a time.
  I think we can all learn some important lessons about life by 
watching these champions--about perseverance, about working together 
and helping each other, about being a good sport.
  I want to congratulate each of these women for the year of hard work 
that culminated in their ultimate victory: seniors Linda Davis and 
Lynette Mund who provided experience and leadership, juniors LaShalle 
Boehm, Jessica DeRemer, Jenni Rademacher, and Lori Roufs; sophomore 
Kasey Morlock, who was the most valuable player of the tournament, and 
her fellow sophomores Rhoda Birch and Andrea Kelly; and freshmen Tanya 
Fischer, Erica Lyseng, Amy Ornell, and Rachael Otto.
  These women are even more special because they will not be making 
millions of dollars playing in the NBA when they graduate. They are 
playing basketball because they love the game, and in the process they 
are serving as good role models for many young girls who need active, 
successful young women to look up to.
  A lot of the credit for the success of the NDSU program rests with 
Head Coach Amy Ruley. She has led the Bison to four championships in 
the last five seasons. In fact, she is doing such a good job that the 
University of Illinois and Long Beach State--two division I schools--
both wanted her for their programs, but I was glad to hear recently 
that she has decided to stay with us in North Dakota.
  We also can not overlook the assistant coaches, Kelli Layman and 
Kathy Wall; student assistant Darci Steere; volunteer assistant Robin 
Kelly; student trainer Nikki Germann; and student manager Mary 
Schueller. Their work behind the scenes plays an important role in the 
team's success.
   [[Page S6301]] We in North Dakota have a lot to look forward to from 
the NDSU women's program in the future. All but the two seniors will be 
returning, and this team knows what it feels like to win. For now, 
though, we can just savor the feeling of having national champions in 
our midst.


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