POMONA, Calif. - On Saturday, Jan. 3, Cal Poly Pomona Intercollegiate Athletics and the women's basketball program will honor the university's 1985 NCAA Division II Women's Basketball national title in a 30-year reunion of the team.
As the 2014-15 Broncos host Cal State Stanislaus for a conference doubleheader, CPP will also celebrate the achievements of the 1985 squad that went 26-7 and won its last 16 games of the season.
At halftime of the Jan. 3 women's basketball game, the 1985 Bronco alumni will be honored in a ceremony at center court. Coached by Darlene May and Barbara Thaller, the 1985 team included: Kelley Fraser, Linda Dugan, Sheryl Hayes, Sherri Jennum, Debra Larsen, Vicki Mitchell, Violet Palmer, Janine Phillips, Sandy Mitchell, Paula Tezak, Debbie Flett and Robin Umphrey.
This March 24, 1985 article in the L.A. Times shares more details on the Broncos' national title:
Led by Vickie Mitchell's 24 points and 12 rebounds, Cal Poly Pomona upset defending champion Central Missouri State, 80-69, at Springfield, Mass., Saturday to win the NCAA Division II women's basketball championship.
It was the second national championship for the Broncos, who won the first-ever Division II women's tournament in 1982. They finished second the following season.
The Broncos wrapped up this season with a 26-7 record, having won their last 16 games, including five in tournament play. Central Missouri State, which came into the game ranked No. 1, finished 28-4.
A layup by Mitchell sparked a 10-point run by the Broncos midway through the first half, and the smaller Jennies were never able to recover.
The Broncos, ranked No. 8, took a 40-26 lead midway through the first half as 5-11 senior guard Kelly Fraser, who finished with 13 assists, bombed for eight straight points from 25 feet.
Central Missouri cut the margin to seven with 11 minutes left to play, behind the shooting of Rosie Jones, the Division II women's player of the year.
Jones, who finished with 28 points, won the scoring battle with Mitchell, a 6-0 junior, but Central Missouri's 5-6 and 5-8 guards could not handle the taller Fraser, who picked apart the Central Missouri defenses, to feed Mitchell and 5-10 forward Sheri Jennum underneath.
Jennum finished with 15 points and five assists and was named to the all-tournament team along with Mitchell, who won MVP honors.
Cal Poly shot 51.7% from the field (31 of 60) and 72% from the free-throw line (18 of 25).
