[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 7]
[House]
[Pages 9641-9642]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     CONGRATULATING THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY NORSE WOMEN'S 
   BASKETBALL TEAM, CHAMPIONS OF THE 2008 NCAA DIVISION II TOURNAMENT

  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1147) congratulating the Northern 
Kentucky University Norse women's basketball team, champions of the 
2008 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II tournament, 
as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1147

       Whereas on March 29, 2008, the Northern Kentucky University 
     Norse defeated the University of South Dakota Coyotes 63-58 
     to become the 2008 National Collegiate Athletic Association 
     (NCAA) Division II women's basketball national champions;
       Whereas the Norse overcame a 9 point deficit with 6 minutes 
     remaining to secure the victory;
       Whereas the Norse had to win 10 of their last 11 games to 
     win the tournament;
       Whereas the team finished their extraordinary 2007-2008 
     season with a 28-8 record;
       Whereas Angela Healy, a senior from Fort Thomas, was named 
     the Elite Eight's Most Outstanding Player;
       Whereas this championship marks the second time the North 
     Kentucky University women's basketball team has won the 
     national title;
       Whereas by excelling in academics and athletics, Nicole 
     Chiodi, Angela Healy, Karen Brackman, Cassie Brannen, 
     Danyelle Echoles, Jessie Slack, Jessica Wendeln, Rachel 
     Lantry, Kendra Caldwell, Diondra Holliday, and Rita Stefan 
     are great role models for young women across the Nation;
       Whereas Head Coach Nancy Winstel, Assistant Coach Matt 
     Schmidt, Assistant Coach Danielle Zimmerman, and Strength and 
     Conditioning Coach Livey Birkenhauer deserve recognition for 
     their work guiding the Norse to their second national 
     championship;
       Whereas the Norse players, coaches, and those associated 
     with the women's basketball team represented Northern 
     Kentucky University and the Commonwealth of Kentucky with 
     exemplary sportsmanship and competitiveness throughout the 
     season; and
       Whereas residents of Kentucky and Norse fans worldwide are 
     to be commended for their longstanding support, perseverance, 
     and pride in the team: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) commends the amazing performance of the Northern 
     Kentucky University Norse in the National Collegiate Athletic 
     Association Division II women's basketball tournament; and

[[Page 9642]]

       (2) recognizes the achievements of the players, coaches, 
     students, and support staff who were instrumental in the 
     Norse championship.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlemen from New 
York (Mr. Bishop) and the gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Biggert) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days 
during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous 
material on H. Res. 1147 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  I rise today to congratulate the Northern Kentucky University Norse 
women's basketball team for their victory in the NCAA 2008 Division II 
tournament. On March 29, women's basketball fans were treated to an 
exceptional game as Northern Kentucky University overcame a nine-point 
deficit, with 6 minutes remaining, to clinch its second national team 
title. The show-stopping 63-58 defeat over third-ranked North Dakota 
broke the Coyotes' 31-game winning streak. The Norse women's basketball 
team had been strong all season, but was unranked going into the 
tournament. By winning 10 of their last 11 games, they were able to 
prove that they should indeed be considered number one.
  I want to extend my congratulations to coach Nancy Winstel, who 
returned to her alma mater to lead the team to an impressive 28-8 
record in her 25th season as head coach. Coach Winstel has been 
involved with the women's basketball program for 30 years at NKU, and 
reached the 500-win plateau as a college coach 3 years ago. Assistant 
coaches Matt Schmidt, Danielle Zimmerman, and strength and conditioning 
coach Livey Birkenhauer round out the coaching team.
  Congratulations are also in order for senior Angela Healy of Fort 
Thomas, Kentucky. Healy, a strong inside scorer and rebounder, was 
named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. During the final game 
she produced a double-double, scoring 14 points and grabbing 13 
rebounds, to lead her team to victory.
  The Northern Kentucky University women's basketball program is the 
only school in the State of Kentucky to win a national championship in 
a women's sport, and it now boasts two. The Norse women's basketball 
program is top notch, and the extraordinary achievement of this season 
is a tribute to the skill and dedication of the many players, coaches, 
students, alumni, families, and fans that have cheered NKU along the 
way.
  Winning the national championship and finishing the season with a 28-
8 overall record has brought national acclaim to Northern Kentucky 
University. I know the fans of the university will revel in this 
accomplishment as they look forward to next season.
  Mr. Speaker, I once again congratulate Northern Kentucky University 
for their success.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. BIGGERT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1147, 
congratulating the Northern Kentucky University Norse women's 
basketball team, the 2008 National Collegiate Athletic Association 
Division II tournament champions. How far women have come since the 
days that women basketball players were required to play half court 
only. I remember those days. This has really changed.
  On March 29, 2008, and before a crowd of 3,067, the unranked Northern 
Kentucky Norse, from Highland Heights, Kentucky, put an end to the 
third-ranked University of South Dakota's Coyotes' 31-game win streak. 
NKU's women's basketball team used a 23-9 run to overcome a nine-point 
deficit and beat South Dakota 63-58 in the 2008 NCAA Division II 
national championship game.
  Only 3 weeks earlier, NKU was just hoping to make it into the NCAA 
tournament. The Norse improved its NCAA chances by advancing to the 
Great Lakes Valley Conference finals, where it lost to Drury. Despite 
the loss, the team received a fourth seed in the Great Lakes regional. 
Earlier in the tournament, NKU had to overcome a 15-point deficit to 
win its first round games against Indianapolis, 55-54. The Norse then 
whipped Drury, 84-65, and edged Missouri S&T, 60-52, on the path to the 
finals.
  NKU is led by one of the top coaches in the NCAA Division II women's 
basketball, Nancy Winstel. Currently in her 25th season as head coach 
at Northern Kentucky University, Coach Winstel reached the 500-win 
plateau 3 years ago. With this most recent championship, Coach Winstel 
has led NKU to two national titles, having earlier guided NKU to the 
1999-2000 NCAA Division II national championship.
  We should recognize Northern Kentucky University for embracing a 
regional stewardship role as reflected by its significant consideration 
to the intellectual, social, economic, cultural, and civic vitality of 
the region and the commonwealth. NKU supports multidimensional 
excellence across the full breadth of its work: Teaching and learning, 
research and creative activity, and outreach and public engagement. The 
university fosters a community that values openness, inclusion, and 
respect, and is committed to intellectual and creative freedom and to 
the open expression of ideas.
  I extend my congratulations to the university's President, Dr. James 
Votruba; Athletic Director Jane Meier; Head Coach, Nancy Winstel, and 
her staff; and all of the hardworking the players, the fans, and to 
Northern Kentucky University. I am happy to be joined by my good friend 
and colleague, Representative Geoff Davis, in honoring this exceptional 
team and all of its accomplishments, and wish all involved continued 
success. I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.
  If there are no further speakers on the other side, I would yield 
back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of New York. We yield back the balance of our time as 
well.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Bishop) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1147, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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