Butler Bulldogs women's basketball


The Butler Bulldogs women's basketball team represents Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The school's team currently competes in the Big East after moving from the Atlantic 10 following the 2012–2013 season. The Bulldogs had competed in the Horizon since joining Division I competition in the 1986-1987 season. The women’s basketball team began competing in the IAIAW in 1975-1976 under coach Xandra Hamilton and had their first winning season two years later, obtaining a 9-5 record under coach Linda Mason. The Bulldogs are currently coached by Kurt Godlevske.

History

The women's basketball program at Butler University began in the 1975-76 season, competing in the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women. The Bulldogs' first winning season came two years later, earning a 9-5 record under the direction of coach Linda Mason. The Bulldogs played in the AIAW National Tournament for the first time in 1982, falling in the second round to William Penn, 77-94. The next season, 1982–83, the Bulldogs began competition at the NCAA Division II level, where they competed for four seasons until they joined the Horizon League and Division I competition for the 1986-87 season.
The Bulldogs qualified for Division I post-season play for the first time in 1993, competing in the WNIT under coach Paulette Stein, who revitalized the program following five losing records in six seasons in the late 1980s. Butler competed in the NCAA Women's Division I Basketball Tournament for the first time in 1996 under coach June Olkowski, Butler's only coach to never record a losing season. Their last post-season appearance in the 1990s was in the WNIT in 1998.
The Bulldogs began a new era during the 2002-03 season, in which Beth Couture was hired as the Bulldogs' seventh head coach, a position she still holds. Couture is Butler's longest-serving head women's basketball coach. From her first season at Butler through the 2012–2013 season, she compiled a 178–158 record including four total and three consecutive WNIT appearances, and four consecutive 20-win seasons. Under Couture, Butler recorded a 23–10 mark in 2010, the most wins in team history, and recorded its first WNIT win in 2009 with a 59–58 victory over Duquesne on a layup with 2.2 seconds remaining in the game.
The 2013-14 season will see the Bulldogs' third conference in as many years as Coach Couture guides the team in transitioning to the Big East from its only season in the Atlantic Ten. During that season, the Bulldogs posted an 8-6 conference record, giving the team winning records in two conferences during Couture's tenure.

Records

Team

Points

Single-game

The Bulldogs have appeared in one NCAA Tournament. Their record is 0-1.
YearSeedRoundOpponentResult/Score
1996#15First RoundIowaL 67-72

NIT results

The Bulldogs have appeared in five Women's National Invitation Tournaments. Their combined record is 3-6.
YearRoundOpponentResult/Score
1993First Round
Consolation Second Round
Consolation Third Round		Florida International
UNLV
Northwestern		L 75-79
W 74-71
L 85-89
1998First Round
Second Round		Bowling Green
LSU		W 95-90
L 58-74
2009First Round
Second Round		Duquesne
Marquette		W 59-58
L 49-58
2010First RoundIllinois StateL 54-57
2011First RoundWisconsinL 48-68

Awards

Horizon League Women's Basketball Coach of the Year
Horizon League Women's Basketball Player of the Year
First Team All-League
Second Team All-League
Horizon League Women's Basketball Newcomer of the Year
Horizon League All-Newcomer Team
Horizon League Tournament MVP
Horizon League All-Tournament Team
Horizon League Defensive Player of the Year
Horizon League All-Defensive Team
First awarded in 1995-96