Butler Basketball Follow the Bulldogs on the World Wide Web at Table of Contents Quick Facts

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1 Butler Basketball Media Information Schedule Season Roster... 4 Pronunciation... 4 Team Photo... 5 Preview Notes... 8 Coaching Staff Beth Couture Seph Hatley Gene Hill Tianna Kirkland Postseason Bulldogs Returning Players Stephanie Boeke Ashley Brenden Nikki Budgake Jackie Closser Ellen Hamilton Courtney Lickliter Maria Marchesano Jessica Monaco Cortney Urquhart Newcomers Candace Bain Ashley Conner Cassie Freeman Gina Grussing Jessica Smart Review Statistics Results Season Highs/Lows Table of Contents Game-by-Game Statistics Horizon League Opponents Horizon League Non-Conference Series Records League Composite Schedule History and Records All-Time Roster Single-Game Records Single-Season Records Career Records Year-by-Year Results Team Records Honors and Awards Butler University The University... 66, Athletics Administration Athletics Horizon League Indianapolis Hinkle Fieldhouse On the Cover: Butler s three seniors, (from left) Courtney Licklter, Cortney Urquhart and Maria Marchesano appear on this season s media guide and game program cover. The three will also serve as tri-captains during the season. Credits: The Butler University Women s Basketball Media Guide is a production of the Butler University Sports Information Office. The guide was designed, written and edited by Assistant Sports Information Director John Dedman. Special thanks to Sports Information Director Jim McGrath, Matt Malloy, Sally Cutler of Butler Marketing and Communications, the Horizon League Communications Department, Butler Sports Marketing and the Butler women s basketball staff. The guide was produced using Adobe PageMaker 7.0 and Adobe Photoshop Photography courtesy of Brent Smith (Butler Marketing and Communications) and Mark Roach (Visual Sports). Cover design by Alisha Luckenbill of Butler Marketing and Communications. Printing by Multi-Ad Printing of Peoria, Ill. Follow the Bulldogs on the World Wide Web at Quick Facts GENERAL Location... Indianapolis, Indiana Founded Enrollment... 4,400 Nickname... Bulldogs School Colors... Blue & White Home Court... Hinkle Fieldhouse (11,043) Affiliation... NCAA Division I Conference... Horizon League President... Dr. Bobby Fong Alma Mater/Yr.... Harvard/1973 Athletic Director... John Parry Alma Mater/Yr.... Brown/1965 Sr. Assoc. AD/SWA... Carol Reep Faculty Athletic Rep... Dr. Joe Kirsch Athletic Dept. Phone... (317) Ticket Office Phone... (317) HISTORY First year of basketball All-time record /29 seasons Years in NCAA Tournament/last... 1/1996 Years in WNIT/last... 2/1998 Last postseason opponent... Louisiana State Result... Lost, (1998 WNIT 2nd Round) TEAM INFORMATION Overall Record Conference Record/Finish /T-4th Postseason... n/a Final Ranking... n/a Letterwinners Returning/Lost... 9/6 Starters Returning/Lost... 2/3 COACHING STAFF Head Coach...Beth Couture Alma Mater/Yr.... Erskine/1984 Record at Butler (yrs.) (2) Career Record (yrs.) (15) Basketball Office Phone... (317) Best time to reach coach... 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Assistant Coaches (Alma Mater/Year)... Seph Hatley (Pfeiffer/1994)... Gene Hill (Coker College/1997)... Tianna Kirkland (Ferris State/2002) WBB Secretary...Cindy Butts Athletic Trainer... TBA SPORTS INFORMATION Women s Basketball SID... John Dedman Office Phone... (317) Cell Phone... (317) jdedman@butler.edu SID Fax... (317) Sports Information Director... Jim McGrath Office Phone... (317) jmcgrath@butler.edu Press Row Phone... (317) Web site... Conference Web site

2 Media Information Butler Basketball Schedule N. 4 HOOSIER LADY STARS (Exh.) 7:30 p.m. N. Kentucky 7 p.m. N. 21 LEWIS 2 p.m. N. 26 vs. Austin Peay % 8 p.m. CST N. 27St. Louis or Alabama A&M % TBA N. Western Michigan 7 p.m. D. 4 vs. Valparaiso $ Noon D. 8 MIAMI (OHIO) 7 p.m. D. 11 EASTERN ILLINOIS 2 p.m. D. Evansville 2 p.m. CST D. 21 IPFW 7 p.m. D. Wright State* 7 p.m. J. 3 UW-MILWAUKEE* 7 p.m. J. 8 UW-GREEN BAY* (DH) 3 p.m. J. 12 IUPUI 7 p.m. J. Detroit* 4:30 p.m. J. 20 YOUNGSTOWN STATE* 7 p.m. J. UW-Milwaukee* 2 p.m. CST J. 29 WRIGHT STATE* 2 p.m. J. UW-Green Bay* 5:30 p.m. CST F. 3 DETROIT* (DH) 5:30 p.m. F. 5 CLEVELAND STATE* TBA F. UIC* Noon CST F. Youngstown State* 2 p.m. F. 17@ Loyola* 7p.m. CST F. 19 UIC* (DH) Noon F. Cleveland State* 7 p.m. F. 26 LOYOLA* (DH) 3 p.m. M. 1 Horizon League First Round M. 3 Horizon League Quarterfinals M. 6 Horizon League Semifinals M. 7Horizon League Championship Home games in BOLD CAPS % Billiken Classic (St. Louis, Mo.) $ Hoosier State Classic (Terre Haute, Ind.) * Horizon League game All times local to site David Woods Indianapolis Star 307 North Pennsylvania Indianapolis, IN (317) (317) Fax Daniel Bradley Dawgnet Butler University Indianapolis, IN (317) (317) Fax The Butler Basketball Guide has been prepared to assist members of the print and electronic media with their coverage of the Bulldogs. If you have need for additional information or pictures, please contact: John Dedman, Asst. SID Butler University Hinkle Fieldhouse 510 W. 49th Street Indianapolis, Indiana address: jdedman@butler.edu IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS Butler Athletic Department... (317) Head Coach Beth Couture... (317) John Dedman (Office)... (317) John Dedman (Cell)... (317) SID FAX... (317) Press Row... (317) For additional Butler athletic information, check: WORKING CREDENTIALS: Requests for working press credentials should be directed to the Butler Sports Information Office as far in advance of the game as possible. Working press members will be seated at courtside. PHOTOGRAPHERS: Photo passes will be issued by the Butler Sports Information Office to certified news photographers only. Photographers are limited to working at either end of the court at the right of the basket, and flashes are not permitted. INTERVIEWS: Butler coaches and players will be available for interviews following the game in the basketball interview area, located on the northwest side of the arena. Requests for Butler players should be given to Butler s SID prior to the end of the game. Head coach Beth Couture is available to the media immediately following any Butler practice session, or by appointment. Butler s players are available immediately following practice or as their class schedules allow. Dave Calabro WTHR-TV 1000 N. Meridian St. Indianapolis, IN (317) (317) Fax Vince Welch WIBC 40 Monument Circle, Suite 400 Indianapolis, IN (317) (317) Fax Steve Herman Associated Press 251 N. Illinois, Suite 1600 Indianapolis, IN (317) (317) Fax Anthony Calhoun WISH-TV 1950 N. Meridian St. Indianapolis, IN (317) (317) Fax Chris Denari WXIN-TV 6910 Network Place Indianapolis, IN (317) (317) Fax Greg Rakestraw ESPN Monument Circle, Suite 250 Indianapolis, IN (317) (317) Fax Chris Peric Butler Collegian Butler University Indianapolis, IN (317) (317) Fax Dave Furst WRTV-TV 1330 N. Meridian Street Indianapolis, IN (317) (317) Fax Mark Patrick WNDE 6161 Fall Creek Road Indianapolis, IN (317) (317) Fax News Director WXNT 9245 N. Meridian, Suite 300 Indianapolis, IN (317) (317) Fax 2

3 Season 3

4 Bulldogs Numerical Roster Butler Basketball No. Name Yr. Ht. Pos. Hometown/High School (Last College) 4 Jackie Closser So. 5-5 G Alexandria, Ind./Monroe 5 Ashley Conner Fr. 5-6 G Indianapolis, Ind./North Central 11 Jessica Monaco Jr F Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Saratoga Springs 12 Stephanie Boeke Jr G/F Minster, Ohio/Minster 13 Maria Marchesano Sr G/F Fort Wayne, Ind./Elmhurst 15 Ashley Brenden So. 6-3 C Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson 20 Cassie Freeman Fr F Fishers, Ind./Heritage Christian 22 Candace Bain Fr. 6-2 F/C Clarksville, Ind./Clarksville 23 Ellen Hamilton So G Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield Central 24 Jessica Smart Jr. 5-6 G Chicago, Ill./Marshall (Cincinnati State) 30 Gina Grussing Jr. 6-0 F Penfield, Ill./Armstrong (Parkland JC) 33 Courtney Lickliter Sr. 5-7G Westfield, Ind./Park Tudor (Lewis Univ.) 42 Nikki Budgake Jr. 6-3 F/C North Canton, Ohio/Hoover 50 Cortney Urquhart Sr. 6-2 C Somerset Center, Mich./Hanover-Horton Alphabetical Roster No. Name Yr. Ht. Pos. Hometown/High School (Last College) 22 Candace Bain Fr. 6-2 F/C Clarksville, Ind./Clarksville 12 Stephanie Boeke Jr G/F Minster, Ohio/Minster 42 Nikki Budgake Jr. 6-3 F/C North Canton, Ohio/Hoover 15 Ashley Brenden So. 6-3 C Bloomington, Minn./Jefferson 4 Jackie Closser So. 5-5 G Alexandria, Ind./Monroe 5 Ashley Conner Fr. 5-6 G Indianapolis, Ind./North Central 20 Cassie Freeman Fr F Fishers, Ind./Heritage Christian 30 Gina Grussing Jr. 6-0 F Penfield, Ill./Armstrong (Parkland JC) 23 Ellen Hamilton So G Greenfield, Ind./Greenfield Central 33 Courtney Lickliter Sr. 5-7G Westfield, Ind./Park Tudor (Lewis Univ.) 13 Maria Marchesano Sr G/F Fort Wayne, Ind./Elmhurst 11 Jessica Monaco Jr F Saratoga Springs, N.Y./Saratoga Springs 24 Jessica Smart Jr. 5-6 G Chicago, Ill./Marshall (Cincinnati State) 50 Cortney Urquhart Sr. 6-2 C Somerset Center, Mich./Hanover-Horton Head Coach: Asst. Coaches: Coaching Staff Beth Couture Erskine, 84 Third Season at Butler 15th Season as a Head Coach Seph Hatley Pfeiffer, 94 Third Season at Butler Gene Hill Coker College, 97 Third Season at Butler Pronunciation Guide Boeke: BO-key Budgake: Bud-GAKE Couture: Koo-CHUR Grussing: GROO-sing Marchesano: MARK-e-sah-no Monaco: MON-a-ko Lickliter: LICK-light-er Urquhart: URK-heart Tianna Kirkland Ferris State, 02 First Season at Butler 4

5 Bulldogs Front Row (l-r): Jessica Monaco, Jessica Smart, Courtney Lickliter, Cortney Urquhart, Maria Marchesano, Jackie Closser, Ashley Conner; Middle Row (l-r): Cassie Freeman, Asst. Coach Seph Hatley, Asst. Coach Gene Hill, Head Coach Beth Couture, Asst. Coach Tianna Kirkland, Ellen Hamilton; Back Row (l-r): Gina Grussing, Nikki Budgake, Ashley Brenden, Candace Bain, Stephanie Boeke By Class Seniors (3) Courtney Lickliter Maria Marchesano Cortney Urquhart Juniors (5) Stephanie Boeke Nikki Budgake Gina Grussing Jessica Monaco Jessica Smart Sophomores (3) Ashley Brenden Jackie Closser Ellen Hamilton Freshmen (3) Candace Bain Ashley Conner Cassie Freeman By State Indiana (7) Candace Bain Jackie Closser Ashley Conner Cassie Freeman Ellen Hamilton Courtney Lickliter Maria Marchesano Ohio (2) Stephanie Boeke Nikki Budgake Illinois (2) Gina Grussing Jessica Smart Michigan (1) Cortney Urquhart Minnesota (1) Ashley Brenden New York (1) Jessica Monaco By Position Guards (5) Jackie Closser Ashley Conner Ellen Hamilton Courtney Lickliter Jessica Smart Forwards (6) Candace Bain Stephanie Boeke Cassie Freeman Gina Grussing Maria Marchesano Jessica Monaco Centers(3) Ashley Brenden Nikki Budgake Cortney Urquhart By Height 6-3 (2) Ashley Brenden Nikki Budgake 6-2 (2) Candace Bain Cortney Urquhart 6-0 (1) Gina Grussing 5-10 (5) Stephanie Boeke Cassie Freeman Ellen Hamilton Maria Marchesano Jessica Monaco 5-7 (1) Courtney Lickliter 5-6 (2) Ashley Conner Jessica Smart 5-5 (1) Jackie Closser 5

6 Outlook Bulldogs Look to Expand on Last Season s Success Butler Basketball The Bulldogs enter the campaign off their first league winning record and tournament semifinals appearance in five years. Head coach Beth Couture and the Bulldogs record earned the team the distinction of the 14 th -best winning percentage improvement in NCAA Division I last season. While this year s Bulldogs at first glance seem inexperienced, many gained valuable experience on the court in , which should allow for the momentum to continue this season. I ve been very impressed with our work ethic and attitude throughout the preseason, said Couture, who boasts a record in 15 seasons as a head coach. Our workouts have shown that we will definitely be a different team than last season, but we re still eager to take the program back to competing at a championship level. Obviously, we ll be deeper this season. Our roster allows us the flexibility to give teams a lot of different looks throughout a game. I think what we lost to graduation last season in terms of athleticism, we countered by bringing in a lot of size and skill. Sophomore point guard Jackie Closser takes the reins of the Bulldogs offense after appearing in 28 games as All-Horizon League Nancy Bowden s understudy last season. Closser joins backcourt mate Ellen Hamilton, giving the Bulldogs a guard combo with three-point capabilities. The duo combined for 84 treys in , while each shot better than 35 percent from behind the arc. Hamilton, one of the league s best sharpshooters, earned league All-Newcomer Team accolades last season. Since the start of their sophomore seasons, it s apparent that Jackie and Ellen s maturity levels have grown to the point where I feel very comfortable with them handling our backcourt, said Couture. Freshman Ashley Conner provides depth at both guard positions. Even though Conner has yet to appear in a collegiate contest, the Indianapolis native is no stranger to big games, helping her North Central squad to a state championship in Junior college transfer Jessica Smart gives the Bulldogs backcourt added athleticism. At Cincinnati State, Smart got the reputation as a shut-down defender, often matching up with the opposition s best perimeter player. Courtney Lickliter, one of the team s three seniors, is entering her second season at Butler after transferring from Lewis University, one of the Bulldogs non-conference opponents this season. She saw action in eight games in and serves as one of the team s three captains this season. We have many different options for our backcourt, said Couture. We have the ability to put an offensive or defensive tandem on the court, or we can put Horizon League All-Newcomer Team honoree Ellen Hamilton personnel in depending on if we need shooting or driving capabilities. This is something we haven t been able to do in the past. In addition to Bowden s graduation, the Bulldogs also will have to overcome the departure of the team s starting forwards, Angel Mason and Dionne Goodwin. Junior Jessica Monaco and senior Maria Marchesano became regular contributors toward the end of the season, providing an offensive punch as the Bulldogs won six of their final eight games. Each shot around the 40 percent mark from three-point land last season, highlighted by Marchesano s 4-of-4 shooting from behind the arc in six minutes of action in the Bulldogs win over UIC Feb. 12. Looking back on last season, the most important part of Maria and Jessica seeing a lot of action down the stretch was their confidence level going into this season, said Couture. They should be able to step in and help to fill the void of players we lost to graduation. Junior Stephanie Boeke has made 11 starts during her Butler tenure and sparked the Bulldogs in their upset win over Chattanooga last season. In that game, Boeke scored a season-high nine points and had three 6

7 Depth, Versatility Highlight Roster Outlook assists. Freshman Cassie Freeman is the second Indiana All-Star to join the Butler roster in as many years, along with Closser, a 2003 selection. Freeman, from nearby Heritage Christian High School, amassed more than 1,700 points during her high school career, helping the Eagles to a state runner-up finish in Cassie is the type of player on the wing that brings size and strength, in addition to being able to shoot, said Couture. She ll cause mismatches because she can go inside or out and be effective. The center position provides the Bulldogs with the most stability as sophomore starter Ashley Brenden returns along with senior Cortney Urquhart, the team s leading returning scorer. Urquhart should eclipse the 1,000-point plateau during the season and will be motivated to continue the program s rise to the upper echelon of the Horizon League, seeing the team improve from a 3-26 squad her freshman year. Urquhart received preseason second team All- Horizon League honors this season, as she enters the season as the Bulldogs active leader in most statistical categories. Brenden started 20 games last season and finished among the Horizon League leaders in blocked shots. The 6-3 Brenden also has the ability to hit the mid-range jumper and step behind the arc and knock down shots. We feel confident about our low block play with the minutes that Cortney and Ashley saw last season, said Couture. We also feel that they can play together in certain situations because of their talent in addition to their size. Nikki Budgake, a junior, has appeared in 37 games for the Bulldogs in her two seasons in Indianapolis. The North Canton, Ohio native is one of Butler s two players who stand 6-3. Newcomers Candace Bain and Gina Grussing should both contribute immediately. Bain, a versatile 6-2 forward/ center, has the ability to hit the trey and work down low on the block. Coming from Clarksville, Ind., Bain finished as her school s career leader in both points and rebounds, earning honorable mention All-State accolades. Grussing, a junior college transfer from Parkland Junior College, gives the Bulldogs a defensive and rebounding presence on the interior. After becoming Armstrong High School s career leading scorer, racking up more than 2,000 points, Grussing earned Player of the Year and Freshman of the Year honors by the Collegiate Conference of Central Illinois in her first season at Parkland. Shooting just shy of 60 percent from the field that season, Grussing finished seventh in the nation in field goal percentage. Even though we return two strong post players in Ashley and Cortney, we feel like our depth in the frontcourt will allow us to play more aggressively and have competition for spots, said Couture. It s a plus for us that we have a lot of talent so our practices will be extremely competitive. Butler s schedule opens with a tilt against SEC upand-coming program Kentucky before the Bulldogs host Lewis Nov. 21 at Hinkle Fieldhouse in their home opener. Butler will spend the Thanksgiving weekend in Missouri, competing in the Billiken Classic with host Saint Louis, Austin Peay and Alabama A&M. The rest of the non-conference slate includes contests against instate rivals Valparaiso, Evansville, IPFW and IUPUI, in addition to Western Michigan, Miami (Ohio) and Eastern Illinois. The Bulldogs look to improve on their fourth-place finish in the Horizon League last season. Regular season and tournament champion UW-Green Bay returns a strong lineup, while Detroit and UW- Milwaukee also made the tournament s final four in Butler will play home-and-home series against all eight league opponents, including four doubleheaders at Hinkle Fieldhouse with the men s team against league competition. Sophomore center Ashley Brenden 7

8 Outlook Butler Basketball Bulldogs Picked to Finish Third in Horizon League Preseason Women s Basketball Poll The Butler women s basketball team continues its climb to the top of the Horizon League and people are starting to take notice. The Bulldogs were picked to finish third in the league standings in a preseason poll of the league s coaches, sports information directors and media, released by the league Oct. 19. Butler, fresh off a 9-7 Horizon League record and tournament semifinals appearance last season, returns nine letterwinners, including second-team preseason All-Horizon League pick Cortney Urquhart and All-Newcomer Team selection Ellen Hamilton. Coach Beth Couture s team received 174 points in the poll, including being one of only three teams to garner a first-place vote. The 174 points in the poll tied the Bulldogs for third with Detroit, behind defending champion UW-Green Bay (258) and UW-Milwaukee (213). It s a great honor to be seen by your peers as one of the top teams in the conference, said Couture, who enters her third season at Butler. A lot of credit needs to go to those players who have been here these last few years and worked hard to get the program to the place it is today. Loyola (167), UIC (137), Cleveland State (114), Wright State (96) and Youngstown State (68) rounded out the poll. In last season s poll, the Bulldogs were picked to tie for seventh before tying for fourth in the final league standings, part of the reason the Bulldogs pulled off the 14th-greatest win improvement in Division I last season Preseason Poll 1. UW-Green Bay 258 points (24 first-place votes) 2. UW-Milwaukee 213 (1) T3. Butler 174 (1) T3. Detroit Loyola UIC Cleveland State Wright State Youngstown State 68 COUTURE STICKING AROUND: On the eve of last season s Horizon League tournament, Butler extended the contract of women s basketball coach Beth Couture through the season. The Bulldogs have at least doubled their win total from the previous season in each of Couture s two seasons in Indianapolis, including the 14th best win improvement in Division I last season. DEEP THREATS: Senior Maria Marchesano had one of the program s most efficient games Feb. 12 against UIC at Hinkle Fieldhouse. In just six minutes of action, the Ft. Wayne, Ind., native scored 12 points on 4-of-4 three-point shooting. Her four bombs helped the Bulldogs to a school-record 14 threepointers in the win. Entering this season, 83 percent of Marchesano s 316 career points have come from threepointers (87 3FGs for 261 points), as she s currently seventh on Butler s career three-point charts. Marchesano is one of four returning players, joining Jackie Closser, Ellen Hamilton and Jessica Monaco, to have shot at least 35 percent from long range last season. BULLDOGS LIVE ON THE WEB: Josh Rattray and Melinda Quasius will once again be bringing the action of Butler basketball into your living room this season, broadcasting all of Butler s games live on. Click the Listen Live link on the main page and follow the instructions to catch the Bulldogs live, whether they are in Hinkle Fieldhouse or on the road. URQUHART TABBED WITH PRESEASON HONOR:Senior Cortney Urquhart earned second-team preseason All- Horizon League honors after posting nearly 10 points and five rebounds per game last season. The 6-2 center scored in double figures on 15 occasions last season and picked up her 500th career rebound in the Bulldogs final game of the season. Urquhart needs just 169 points to reach the point milestone. We re extremely happy for Cortney, said Couture. She s worked extremely hard for the last three years and is very deserving of this honor. We re confident that her play on the court this season will justify this preseason recognition. UW-Green Bay s Abby Scharlow was tabbed as the league s preseason Player of the Year, joining three Phoenix teammates in earning individual honors. QUICK SHOTS: Butler was 10-0 last season when shooting a higher field goal percentage than their opponent...the Bulldogs currently hold winning streaks against six of their eight Horizon League opponents. LIVE AND DIE BY THE KIDS: In , Butler s three freshmen (Ashley Brenden, Jackie Closser and Ellen Hamilton) averaged 19.8 combined points in Butler wins, compared to 14.1 points in the team s setbacks. In the team s 14 wins, the trio combined for 44 percent shooting, while their output dropped to 33 percent in the team s 15 losses. Closser was perfect from the field twice during the season, including Butler s tournament quarterfinals win at Cleveland State March 4. Closser s game-high 17 points came on 5-of-5 shooting. The Alexandria, Ind., native also went an unblemished 6-of-6, including four treys, Feb. 21 at UIC. Hamilton earned All-Newcomer Team honors, finishing the season among the league leaders in both three-point percentage and treys made. She and Brenden each started 20 games. 8

9 Coaching Staff Head Coach Beth Couture Assistant Coaches Seph Hatley Gene Hill Tianna Kirkland 9

10 Coaching Staff Beth Couture Head Coach Third Season Erskine, Butler Basketball Education: Erskine B.S., 1984 Furman M.S., 1987 Résumé: 2002-present Head Coach, Butler University Record Head Coach, Presbyterian College Record Assistant Coach, Presbyterian College Head Coach, Dixie High School Due West, S.C Record Player, Erskine College Coaching Honors: SAC Coach of the Year Basketball, four times SAC Coach of the Year Volleyball, three times Eight 20-win seasons Six D-II Tournaments 18 All-Conference Players Three South Atlantic Conf. Players of the Year Playing Honors: Four-time Team MVP Kodak All-American, 1984 Erskine Hall of Fame, 1989 When Beth Couture arrived in Indianapolis two seasons ago, she knew she faced the toughest challenge of her coaching career. The Butler team that went 3-26 the season before she took the reins hardly resembled her squads at Presbyterian, where she won nearly 70 percent of her games over the course of 13 seasons. But, after developing the roster she inherited and infusing that roster with two talented recruiting classes, Couture orchestrated the 14th greatest improvement in the NCAA last season, leading the Bulldogs to their first Horizon League winning record in five seasons. Couture has at least doubled the Bulldogs win total in each of her two seasons in Indianapolis. Butler finished the campaign with a record, including a 9-7 league mark and appearance in the semifinals of the league tournament. The Bulldogs came together when it counted most, posting victories in nine of the team s final 13 games to climb into the top half of the Horizon League standings. Entering her third season on the Butler sidelines, Couture has re-established the program s ties to Indiana s rich basketball heritage. Her first two recruiting classes have each included an Indiana All-Star (Jackie Closser in 2003 and Cassie Freeman in 2004). In addition, Greenfield, Ind., native Ellen Hamilton received Horizon League All-Newcomer Team accolades following the season. After taking over the Presbyterian program prior to the season, Couture compiled an impressive (.688) overall record including eight 20-win seasons. In addition, she led the program to six trips to the NCAA Division II National Tournament in her last nine years. Couture spent two seasons as an assistant at Presbyterian from , coming to Clinton, S.C., after three years at the helm of Dixie High School in Due West, S.C. Couture accumulated a long list of accomplishments while at Presbyterian College. She led the team to three straight South Atlantic Conference (SAC) regular season and SAC Tournament titles from 1998 to A four-time SAC Coach of the Year recipient, Couture mentored 18 all-conference selections and three conference Players of the Year. One of the highlights of Couture s career came during the season when the Blue Hose placed themselves in the record books with a 28-2 mark. That team won the SAC regular season title with a 15-1 record, won the SAC Tournament title and hosted the NCAA Division II South Atlantic Regional Tournament. Presbyterian was ranked as high as fourth in the nation during that season. 10

11 Coaching Staff The only coach in the conference s history to be named Coach of the Year in two different women s sports, Couture guided the Blue Hose volleyball team to three national tournaments, including the school s first-ever NCAA postseason appearance in She served as the team s head coach from , amassing an overall record of , winning SAC Volleyball Coach of the Year awards on three occasions. A native of Greenville, S.C., Couture is a 1984 graduate of Erskine College where she was a four-time MVP selection in basketball for the Flying Fleet. A Kodak All-American honoree as a senior, Couture was inducted into the Erskine College Hall of Fame in December of She earned a bachelor s of science degree in physical education from Erskine and went on to complete a master s degree in the same field at Furman University in Couture s College Head Coaching Record W L Pct Presbyterian Presbyterian Presbyterian Presbyterian Presbyterian Presbyterian Presbyterian Presbyterian Presbyterian Presbyterian Presbyterian Presbyterian Presbyterian Butler Butler Presbyterian (13 yrs.) Butler (2 yrs.) Overall (15 yrs.) Beth Couture is the only coach in South Atlantic Conference history to be named Coach of the Year in two sports. She earned the honor in basketball on four occasions and in volleyball three times. Butler All-Time Coaching Records Year Coach Overall Conf Xandra Hamilton 1-9 One Season 1-9 (.100) Linda Mason Linda Mason Linda Mason Linda Mason Linda Mason Linda Mason Linda Mason Linda Mason 2-20 Eight Seasons (.725) Russ Sarfaty Russ Sarfaty Russ Sarfaty Russ Sarfaty Four Seasons (.296) Paulette Stein Paulette Stein Paulette Stein Paulette Stein Paulette Stein Five Seasons (.604) June Olkowski June Olkowski June Olkowski June Olkowski June Olkowski June Olkowski Six Seasons (.671) Wendy Gatlin Wendy Gatlin Wendy Gatlin Three Seasons (.253) Beth Couture Beth Couture Two Seasons (.345) Totals (.536) Overall; (.497) Conf. 11

12 Coaching Staff Seph Hatley Assistant Coach Third Season Pfeiffer, 94 Gene Hill Assistant Coach Third Season Coker College, Butler Basketball Assistant coach Seph Hatley enters his fourth season on Beth Couture s staff, including her entire tenure at Butler. When Couture arrived at Butler in 2002, she brought Hatley with her to Indianapolis. Hatley had served as Couture s top assistant in her final season at Presbyterian College. During the season under Couture and Hatley s guidance, the Blue Hose finished with a record of And while Hatley and Couture have coached sideby-side for four seasons, their relationship dates back even further. Prior to working at Presbyterian, Hatley was the head women s basketball coach at Newberry College for the and seasons, where he was a South Atlantic Conference opponent of Couture s. With the Bulldogs, Hatley is in charge of on-court coaching as well as scouting reports. Entering his third season on the Butler sidelines, Hatley has been instrumental in the program s turnaround, as the Bulldogs posted 14 wins and a winning league record last season after going 3-26 with one conference win the year before Couture and her staff arrived in Indianapolis. In addition to his previous head coaching experience, Hatley also served as assistant women s basketball coach at his alma mater, Pfeiffer University, from While at Pfeiffer, he also served as Pfeiffer s head coach for men s and women s cross country teams, assistant softball coach and sports information director. Hatley earned his degree in sports management from Pfeiffer University in Before coming to Pfeiffer, Hatley spent two years at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Fla., where he earned an Associate of Arts degree in Hatley and his wife, Candace, were married in The couple resides in Broad Ripple. Coaching Experience Asst. Coach, Butler University, 2002-present Asst. Coach, Presbyterian, Head Coach, Newberry College, Asst. Coach, Pfeiffer College, Gene Hill enters his third season on the Butler women s basketball staff. He joined coach Beth Couture s first Butler staff in 2002 after serving as the interim head women s basketball coach at East Carolina University during the season. With the Bulldogs, Hill serves as the recruiting coordinator and assists with on-court coaching. The Bulldogs recent resurgence to the upper tier of the Horizon League has been in large part to the talent that Hill has accumulated on the Butler roster over the past two seasons. Each of his recruiting classes has included an Indiana All-Star (Jackie Closser in 2003 and Cassie Freeman in 2004), while freshman Ellen Hamilton earned Horizon League All-Newcomer Team honors in Hill has also re-established relationships within the Indiana basketball community, as six of the nine players signed in his first two recruiting classes have had Indiana ties. Prior to his stint at East Carolina, Hill was the head women s basketball coach at University of South Carolina - Spartanburg from While in Spartanburg, he recruited three USA Today Honorable Mention All-Americans and the Peach Belt Conference Freshman of the Year. From , Hill served as an assistant women s basketball coach at Lander (S.C.) University, where he helped lead the Bearcats to their first Peach Belt Conference Tournament championship and earned an NCAA Tournament bid. Hill graduated from Coker (S.C.) College with a degree in physical education in While at Coker, Hill played for the Cobras basketball team for one season and also served as the assistant women s basketball coach for three seasons. Coaching Experience Asst. Coach, Butler University, 2002-present Head Coach, East Carolina, Head Coach, S.C.-Spartanburg, Asst. Coach, Lander University, Asst. Coach, Coker College,

13 Coaching Staff Tianna Kirkland Assistant Coach First Season Ferris State, 02 Tianna Kirkland, who spent the past two seasons as a graduate assistant at Central Michigan University, joins head coach Beth Couture s staff this season. In addition to her on-court coaching responsibilities, Kirkland oversees the team s travel operations and serves as the program s camp director. She also assists with scouting and recruiting. The Flint, Mich., native graduated from Ferris State in 2002 and holds a bachelor s degree in applied biology. Kirkland is currently working toward a master s degree in business administration at Central Michigan University. In just two seasons on the sidelines, Kirkland has amassed a wealth of experience. At Central Michigan, her responsibilities included on-court coaching and the coordination of the program s film-exchange, scout team, and team managers. She was also involved in recruiting and individual skill development. Additionally, Kirkland oversaw the purchasing of all team equipment and the CMU Ball Girl program. Kirkland has served as an instructor at numerous camps, in addition to running Central Michigan s camp the past two summers. Kirkland arrived on the CMU campus after a stellar four-year career at Ferris State University (Big Rapids, Mich.). She ended her senior year by being named a Women s Basketball Bulletin third team All-America selection. She was also recognized as the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Player of the Year. She led the team in rebounding on three occasions and in scoring her last two seasons. Kirkland helped the Bulldogs to their first NCAA Division II National Tournament appearance as a junior. She was named All-GLIAC second team as a junior and GLIAC North Division first team the following year. Kirkland graduated from Ferris State in 2002 as one of the university s most accomplished players. She finished her career as Ferris State s tenth-leading scorer (926 points), third-leading rebounder (705), and fourth-best shooter (.540, 350-for-648). She also ranked in the Top 10 for free throws made (ninth, 226) and blocks (fifth, 40). A two-sport athlete, Kirkland also participated in track and field at FSU. She holds the school indoor and outdoor records in the shot put, in addition to the Bulldogs record discus mark. A two-time co-captain, she also earned Division II All-America honors in the indoor and outdoor shot put and the discus in

14 2005 Postseason Butler Basketball 2005 NCAA Women s Final Four In Indianapolis After hosting the men s Final Four on four occasions, the women s Final Four comes to the RCA Dome in Indianapolis for the first time April 3 and 5, Butler University and the Horizon League will serve as co-hosts for the largest event in college women s basketball. A number of auxillary events come to Indianapolis as well, including the Women s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) National Convention and the WBCA All-Star Challenge, a game recognizing some of the game s biggest stars. The national semifinals will be played Sunday, April 3, while the national championship game is scheduled for Tuesday, April 5. The RCA Dome has served as the host venue for the men s Final Four in 1980, 1991, 1997 and 2000, and will host the event in 2006 and In October, the NCAA announced that the Women s Final Four will also return to Indianapolis in Horizon League Women s Basketball Championship Prior to the season, the Horizon League Executive Council passed a proposal to change the Women s Basketball Championship format. The new format moved the championship from a predetermined site to multiple sites. The first round game and the quarterfinal games are played on campus sites. In the first round game, the No. 8 seed hosts the No. 9 seed. That game is scheduled for Tuesday, March 1, The winner of that game will travel to the No. 1 seed for one of four quarterfinal match-ups, Thursday, March 3. The No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4 seeds will host the No. 7, No. 6 and No. 5 seeds, respectively, with the four winners advancing to the semifinals. Under the pure format, the No. 1 seed (or highest remaining seed if the No. 1 seed were to get beaten in the quarterfinals) would host both the semifinal (Sunday, March 6) and championship (Monday, March 7) rounds. However, the format change will not go into full effect until 2007 since UW- Milwaukee (2004), Wright State (2005) and Youngstown State (2006) retain the hosting rights awarded to each institution prior to the proposal being passed. UW-Milwaukee hosted the semifinals and championship rounds last season despite UW-Green Bay winning the regular season championship. 14