It’s been a quarter-century since Lady Bears basketball became LADY BEARS BASKETBALL.
During the historic 1991-92 season, the then-Southwest Missouri State women’s basketball team grabbed the attention of the Ozarks sports scene with a chokehold as tight as the Lady Bears' full-court "scramble" defense.
As the victories piled up, the crowds continued to build. Fans were mesmerized by the exploits of a group of players who proved they could play – and beat – the best teams in the country.
The march started at Hammons Student Center, continued through some historic victories over nationally-ranked teams, a near-perfect run through the Gateway Conference, then in the NCAA Tournament reached Iowa, Colorado and the brightest lights of Los Angeles.