Led by hall of fame member Kissy Walker ‘03G and assisted by Randy Dodge ’02, Ed Gott and hall of fame member Sharon Siebert ’91, the 1992-1993 women’s basketball team made the longest postseason run of any athletics team in Husson University history - at the time of their induction - by earning a trip to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Division II Championship Fabulous Final Four in Monmouth, Oregon.
The historic run began with a 65-63 loss to Laval University in the opening round of the University of New Brunswick Red Raider Fall Classic. After the season opening loss to Laval, the nationally ranked Braves, who ranked 12th in the nation at the time, reeled off 21-straight wins before the No. 10 nationally ranked Saint Joseph’s College of Maine handed Husson a 76-66 loss at home for their second setback of the season.
The 21-game winning streak - the longest in a single-season in program history at the time of their induction - helped the Braves reach as high as the fourth ranked team in the nation. The team picked up victories over Cape Breton University, the University of Maine at Machias (three-times), the University of Maine at Presque Isle (twice), Colby College, College of Saint Joseph’s (Vt.), the University of Southern Maine, the University of Maine at Farmington (twice), Holy Family University (formally Holy Family College), Culver-Stockton College (Mo.), the University of Tampa, Thomas College (twice), Notre Dame College (N.H.), the University of New England (twice). They also earned wins over No. 17 ranked St. Thomas Aquinas College and No. 15 ranked Saint Joseph’s College of Maine during the streak.
Husson earned wins over Plymouth State University (formerly Plymouth State College) and the University of Maine at Presque Isle to close out the regular season before defeating Westbrook College and the University of New England to reach the NAIA district 5 championship final against the number two seeded Monks. Husson picked up a 64-58 victory over No. 6 ranked Monks at the Portland Expo Center to earn the program’s first-ever berth into the NAIA national tournament and the first NAIA district 5 championship in four years.
The No.7 ranked Braves entered the NAIA national tournament with a 26-2 record and earned a bye into the sweat 16 where they faced No. 11 ranked Sterling College (Kan.). Husson defeated the nationally ranked Warriors by a final score of 71-55, earning the program’s first-ever national tournament victory which allowed the 1992-1993 team to break the single-season win mark of 26 that was by the 1988-1989 team. Husson then moved on to earn a 57-56 triumph over No. 4 ranked Indiana Institute of Technology before falling to eventual national champion No. 1 ranked Montana State University Northern (formally Northern Montana College) in the national semifinals.
At their time of induction, the 1992-1993 team held the single-season team records for wins (28), best record by winning percentage (.903), points scored (2,561), field goals made (1,014), field goals attempted (2,503), free throws made (461), rebounds (1,246), steals (600) and steals average (19.4).
A total of seven individual Husson University Sports Hall of Fame members helped comprise the 1992-1992 squad, including Vicki Mazerall '93, Kristi Wildman ‘93, Darci Collins ‘93, Steph Shaw ‘95, Tara Leavitt ‘96, Stacy Hafford ‘95 and Amy Dyer ‘95. The team was captained by Collins, Mazerall, Shaw and Wildman, and other team members included Anne Cote, Angeline Grant, Shelbi McRae, Melanie Newman, Tracy Parker and Angie White.
The team featured four 1,000-career point scorers in Mazerall, Wildman, Leavitt and Hafford, and one player who was recuirted by hall of fame member Merrill “Red” Wilson in Mazerall.
Two players collected post season accolades — Mazerall was named to the NAIA All-American second team, NAIA district 5 team, Maine Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women All-State First Team, the All-WMAC first team, the NAIA district 5 all-tournament team and the NAIA national tournament team while being selected as the WMAC player of the year and the NAIA district 5 tournament MVP. Wildman collected NAIA All-American honorable mention, NAIA all-district 5 first team, MAIAW all-state first team, All-WMAC first team honors while earning a spot on the NAIA district 5 all-tournament team. Walker was chosen as MAIAW coach of the year.
