The first Tiger women's basketball team to participate in the women's National Invitational Tournament (NIT), the 1969 squad was inducted in the Hall of Fame in 2003.
The first Women's Basketball National Invitational Tournament was formed in 1969; 16 teams were chosen from around the nation to fill out the tournament field. Towson was one of those teams. The Tigers' impressive play and back-to-back winning seasons as a non-scholarship program had gotten them noticed.
In addition to Towson, teams from Southern Illinois, Lynchburg, Ohio State, Purdue, Southern Connecticut, Kentucky, Iowa, Iowa Weslyan, Central Michigan, Ball State, Western Carolina and West Chester State had earned spots in the first round. The Tigers lost by double digits to Southern Illinois to enter the consolation bracket.
There they defeated Ball State (57-53), Central Michigan (49-44) and eventually Purdue, 46-44, in the consolation final.
The Tigers were coached by
Margo Verkruzen, a 1990 selection to the Tiger Hall of Fame who also coached field hockey (’62-’72), volleyball (’62-’79), and softball (’70-’83). She was assisted by
Ellen Eason. The roster included
Marion Klein,
Maurine Elliott,
Geraldine Moran,
Regina Rodman,
Jennifer Thomas,
Pamela Plummer,
Kathy Burdekin,
Linda Conn,
Fran Buckless,
Sue Hartman,
Bonnie Peverill,
Kathy Snyder and
Louise Lears.
