[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 48 (Tuesday, April 16, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S3383]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              NDSU WOMEN TRIUMPH FOR FOURTH STRAIGHT YEAR

  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I want to pay special tribute today to the 
1996 National Collegiate Athletic Association's Division II women's 
national basketball champions, the North Dakota State University Bison.
  The Bison women's accomplishments are truly remarkable for any level 
of play. This year's title marks their fourth straight national 
basketball championship and their fifth title in the last 6 years.
  Many thought they could not improve upon last year's season, when the 
Bison finished their season undefeated. While they didn't quite reach 
that goal, they had 2 losses this year, they did break their own record 
from last year for most points scored in the championship game. This 
year, they scored 104 points against Shippensburg, PA, in the title 
game. They also extended their homecourt winning streak to 43 games.
  Their outstanding team accomplishments throughout the year were aided 
by some notable individual accomplishments. I want to especially 
congratulate the team's two seniors, Lori Roufs and Jenni Rademacher, 
for their achievements throughout their careers at NDSU. Not too many 
college athletes close out their collegiate careers with not one, not 
two, not three, but four national championship rings. That they added 
the fourth is due in no small part to their leadership this year.
  Lori and Jenni each scored 1,000 points during their years at NDSU. 
And they earned the additional honor of being named to the 1996 Elite 8 
All-Tournament team.
  I also cannot overlook the individual accomplishments of junior Kasey 
Morlock, who was named Most Outstanding Player of the tournament for 
the second year in a row.
  But a basketball team needs hard work and contributions from all of 
its players if it is to reach its league's pinnacle. The Bison 
certainly got that from juniors Rhonda Birch and Andrea Kelly, 
sophomores Rachael Otto and Amy Ornell, and freshmen Tanya Fischer, 
Molly Reif, Brenna Stefonowicz, Theresa Lang, Heidi Smith, and Heather 
Seim.
  Finally, I want to honor the coaches who have turned the Bison into 
the dominant force in division II women's basketball. It's no 
coincidence that Head Coach Amy Ruley has won her fifth national 
championship, and I know her players have the highest respect for her 
as a coach and as a person. Coach Ruley is assisted on the bench by 
Kelli Layman, Jill DeVries, and Lynette Mund.
  As with last year, all but the two seniors will be returning for next 
year's season, so the Bison and all of us in North Dakota can look 
forward to another excellent season. But for now, it is more than 
enough to bask in the glow of winning yet another national 
championship. Congratulations to a wonderful team.

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