2022 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE | 1998-99 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAM
The 1998-99 Milligan women’s basketball team is the winningest basketball team in Milligan history as the Buffs’ amassed a 32-4 record. Milligan went 21-0 in Tennessee-Virginia Athletic Conference play and won the TVAC Tournament championship. In the NAIA National Tournament, Milligan advanced to the round of 16 with a victory over the University of Puget Sound.
Milligan led the country in scoring that winter with an average of 85.5 points per game, then an NAIA national record. The squad also led the country and set the NAIA record with 286 three-pointers made. Five players on the ’98-’99 squad ended up scoring 1,000 points in their careers and two scored 2,000 points.
Two team members were already inducted into the Milligan Athletics Hall of Fame. Glenda Blevins Conner (class of 2004) and Becky Sells Olinger (class of 2005). Blevins was a three-time All-American and led the team in scoring at 23 points per game. Sells finished her career as Milligan’s all-time leading scorer, all-time leading rebounder and a three-time All-American.
April Manuel, Crystal Grindstaff and Amy Allen all became members of the 1,000 point club in their careers. Manuel also became Milligan’s all-time assist leader, Grindstaff finished with over 1,500 career points and Allen led Milligan in assists in 1998-99.
Head coach Rich Aubrey spent 27 season as the head coach of the Milligan women’s basketball team. He retired to become Milligan’s campus minister in spring 2020. Over the course of his career, Aubrey led the Buffs to 522 wins, nine regular season championships, three conference tournament titles and eight appearances in the NAIA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship. Aubrey was a 10-time conference coach of the year and the national NAIA Coach of Character in 2013.