Hall of Fame
If one word can be used to describe the 1992-93 Blazer basketball season, it would be “memories.”
The 1992-93 basketball season was packed full of memorable moments and also brought a multitude of accomplishments that propelled the Blazers to the NCAA Division-III Final Four.
Saint Benedict’s 1992-93 squad was led by five talented seniors — Glen Werner, Amy Hergott, Janine Mettling, Kelly Mahlum and Lynn Nielsen.
The seniors thought their team would be competitive, but did not think they would accomplish what they had by the end of the season.
“I knew we had a lot of talent, but I had no clue that we would be able to come out and go undefeated,” Mettling said. “If I had known that, I don’t think it would have been this special.”
The four years leading up to the 1992-93 season, the Blazers’ record was 91-22. Three times during that span the Blazers lost in the NCAA tournament to teams that went on to win the national title.
The Blazers entered the 1992-93 basketball season ranked No. 2 in the Division III national pre-season poll. Saint Benedict wanted to change its post-season fate and dominate the Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
As rising stars began to shine, those goals were achieved as the Blazers steam-rolled through the regular season going 25-0 and a perfect 20-0 in the MIAC. It was only the second time in MIAC women’s basketball history that a team had gone undefeated in conference play and the Blazers continued their run into the NCAA tournament.
The Blazers picked up wins against St. Thomas, Marymount College (Va.) and Concordia-Moorhead and found themselves in the NCAA Final Four for the first time in the program’s history.
Saint Benedict played Central College in the semifinals and saw its impressive run come to an end when Central junior Emilie Hanson grabbed an offensive rebound and hit a ten-foot jump shot with four seconds left in regulation to give the Dutch a 60-59 lead. The Blazers’ last second efforts fell short in the heart breaking loss. In the third-place game the next day, the Blazers lost an 89-69 decision to Scranton (Pa.).
Though the season ended at the Final Four, hugs and well wishes awaited the Blazers when they arrived back to Claire Lynch Hall. The 1992-93 Blazers truly set a standard of excellence for years to come and will always be recognized as one of the best basketball teams to have ever competed at the College of Saint Benedict.
Head coach Mike Durbin knew his 1992-93 was a special one and offered his seniors a copy of the book, See You at the Top by Zig Ziglar before the last regular season game, but he and the seniors knew they were already at the top and that trophies, tournaments, and win-loss records could never change that fact.
“That team set the standards that all other teams have been judged by at the College of Saint Benedict,” Durbin said. “What they accomplished was truly great and everyone that was around that team will have nothing but good memories.”
The season ended with more accomplishments. Mahlum was named to the NCAA Division-III Kodak All-American team and Durbin received NCAA Division-III Coach of the Year honors.
Team members: Shelly Breen, Colleen Carey, Mae Davenport, Kerry Fierke, Danielle Guse, Melissa Harren, Heidi Heintz, Amy Hergott, Tina Kampa, Sarah Karr, Jill Literski, Kelly Mahlum, Janine Mettling, Sarah Mickus, Lisa Nelson, Lynn Nielsen, Karla Pallansch, Stephanie Schug, Megan Stielow, Glennis Werner, Head Coach: Mike Durbin, Assistant Coach: Denny Johnson
