The Idaho women’s basketball team is young compared to 125 years of University of Idaho history, but the program has come a long way in 39 years.
1975 Gem of the Mountains Yearbook
An Idaho women’s basketball player receives a pass during Idaho’s inaugural season in 1975. The Vandals went 8-9 in their first season. Deanne Ercanbrack was the Vandal’s first coach in the 1974-75 women’s basketball season. Bonnie Hultstrand took over as coach for the next three years.
On Nov. 11, 1974, an organizational practice was held to gauge interest for what would become the first Idaho women’s basketball team. Participants were expected to come out and be ready to play basketball.
While the team started in 1974, the first season didn’t start until Jan. 17, 1975. Idaho beat border rival Washington State 39-27 in its first game.
It was the start of the women’s basketball Battle of the Palouse that continues today.
The Vandals went on to win eight of their first 11 games in 1975 before ending the season on a six-game losing streak in their only season under coach Deanne Ercanbrack. They finished their first season with an 8-9 record.
Two of Idaho’s other biggest rivalries also started in 1975 — Boise State and Eastern Washington. The Vandals hold a 31-34 record against the Broncos and a 28-34 record against the Eagles for a combined 127 games.
The Vandals played Eastern Washington again this year losing their closest game of the season 85-84 Dec. 14 in Cheney, Wash.
Idaho had its first winning season four years into the program’s existence during the 1977-78 season. Then third-year coach Bonnie Hultstrand took his team to a 19-7 record with key wins over Whitworth in the season opener, Gonzaga and a 77-32 victory over Eastern Oregon in the season finale.
The Vandals finally joined a conference in 1979 under their third coach, Tara Van Derveer. Idaho went 25-6 in its NW Empire League debut. Idaho’s best days arguably came in the NW Empire League but it wasn’t under Van Derveer, it was under legendary coach Pat Dobratz.
Dobratz took over in 1980 and went 27-1 in conference play in her first two seasons. Dobratz, Idaho’s winningest coach at 142 wins, led the Vandals to their first NCAA Tournament appearance in 1985. Idaho fell at the tournament 73-51 to No. 15 USC but not before the best season in program history with 28 wins.
Dobratz in the Idaho Hall of Fame, but Idaho coach Jon Newlee has a chance this year to do something Dobratz never did — take the Vandals to consecutive NCAA Tournaments.
The Vandals made the NCAA Tournament last season, falling to No. 3 UConn 105-37, but the Vandals are on pace to make it back with a better and more experienced team in 2014 than the 2013 WAC Championship team.
Idaho is currently undefeated in WAC play at 7-0 but nine conference games remain on the schedule before the tournament starts and Newlee’s squad makes his push for Idaho history.
Stephan Wiebe can be reached at [email protected]