DE Assistant Sports Editor

Dedication to a program steeped in tradition has earned SIUC a spot among 12 of the nation’s elite.

With a victory over Creighton Sunday, the SIUC women’s basketball team notched its 500th all-time victory, becoming only one of 12 NCAA Division I schools in history to earn such a prestigious honor.

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SIUC women’s basketball coach Cindy Scott, who has been at the helm at SIUC since 1978, is no stranger to record setting accomplishments. Since her arrival, the program has recorded win No. 200, No. 300 and win No. 400. SIUC’s all-time record is now 500-251 and Scott has been responsible for 357 of those wins.

Scott said recording win No. 500 is a special honor because it’s a great credit to the University’s dedication to women’s basketball.

Its a tribute to the University and the commitment they have had to women sports for a lot of years, Scott said. To have 500 wins means that we’ve been playing the game for a long time at our University.

That stems back to people recognizing the benefit of women’s sports, and in particular women’s basketball many years ago.

The 12 programs to reach the 500-win plateau include:Tennessee, Louisiana Tech, Long Beach State, James Madison, Texas, Tennessee Tech, Stephen F. Austin, Old Dominion, Ohio State, Penn State and Kansas State.

Scott said reaching win No. 500 is nothing short of wonderful. She said the overall solidness of the women’s basketball program and the rich tradition is perhaps the greatest accomplishment of all.

I think the 500 mark shows a great tradition of women’s basketball at SIUC, Scott said. This University made a commitment to women’s sports many years before a lot of other schools. did.

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SIUC associate athletics director Charlotte West was an early pioneer of the women’s basketball program. West coached the women’s basketball team from 1960 until 1975, compiling a 113-51 record.

She said many people appreciate the success the program has enjoyed.

Reaching 500-wins is a tribute to the entire program, West said. People appreciate a history of success whether its in the chemistry department or the athletic department. The women’s basketball program has had a long history of success.

We have a very proud program and coach Scott has been a major part of that.

Mitchell Parkinson, now in his 19th year as SIUC’s women’s sports information director, said the women’s basketball program has a long history of success and is a credit to the sport.

I think 500 wins speaks for the long term excellence of our program, Parkinson said. I think the fact that, when it comes to women’s basketball, SIUC has withstood the test of time.

Parkinson said the administration at SIUC has been a long term supporter of the women’s basketball program.

A number of people have been a big help, he said. We may have a small group of fans, but there is no question that the administration has supported the program.

The women’s basketball team is now shooting for its 15th winning season in a row and Parkinson said this year has been yet another great year for the program. Midway through the season, Scott recorded her 200th victory over an intrastate school.

This has been a banner season, Parkinson said. We are trying for our 15th winning season. No other school in our conference can say that and there are few in the nation except for the big schools who can say that.