The 1997-98 Bridgewater College women's basketball team set a program record for victories in a season on its way an NCAA Tournament appearance.
Under the direction of BC Hall of Fame head coach Jean Willi, the team finished with a 24-5 record and posted a 17-3 mark in ODAC play. The Eagles opened the season on a 19-game winning streak which saw several dominant victories against league opponents, including an 86-54 win on the road at Eastern Mennonite and a 90-48 win against Lynchburg at home. Bridgewater also claimed a convincing 75-55 win against Mary Washington to cap the home regular season schedule. The Eagles defended their home court all season finishing with a 12-2 mark in Nininger Hall enroute to the second seed in the ODAC Tournament.
The Eagles picked up an 85-65 win against the Randolph-Macon Women's College in the opening game of the ODAC Tournament behind a 20-point performance from Amanda Osborn before BC downed Guilford, 65-51, led by a double-double from Amanda Kyger who contributed 22 points and 13 rebounds to advance to the league tournament final for the first time since 1993.
Despite falling to Roanoke in overtime by a basket in the ODAC Championship game, the Eagles clinched an at-large berth in the NCAA Tournament to play on the national stage for the second season in a row. Advancing directly to the second round of the tournament, Bridgewater defeated Christopher Newport with a closely contested 90-87 victory as Kyger recorded a double-double with 24 points and 16 rebounds to move on to the Sweet 16 for the first time in program history. BC fell in the regional semifinal to Washington University of St. Louis, which went on to become the 1998 National Champions.
Statistically, the team was led by Bridgewater Hall of Famer Jennifer Young averaging 17.2 points per game and ranked fifth in the ODAC in the category behind a pair of 30-point games. Young led the ODAC in three-point percentage with a mark of 47.2% while Connie Ritchie, Kyger and Heather Landes all ranked among the leaders in the conference in multiple categories.
Young claimed All-America honors from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association following her first team All-ODAC selection and a spot on the all-state first team. Young's 1997-98 season ranked among the best in Bridgewater history in points, free throw percentage, three-pointers made and the top mark in three-point percentage. Joining her on the first team of the all-conference listing was Ritchie. In addition, Willi was named the State Coach of the Year.
During one of the most successful stretches in team history, the Eagles were nationally ranked with an appearance in the top 10 in the country.
In recognition of its accomplishments 1997-98 BC women's basketball team has been deemed worthy of induction into the Bridgewater College Athletic Hall of Fame as a Team of Distinction.
