Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics

Led by legendary Bears coach Pat Smith, the Lenoir-Rhyne 1980-81 women's basketball team made history, winning the NCAIAW State Championship, the AIAW Region II Tournament Championship, and advancing to the AIAW Division II/Small College Final Four. This team featured five current Lenoir-Rhyne Hall of Famers, including all-time leading scorer Brenda Hairston. 

The Bears finished with a 27-8 record that season and set a new program record with 17 wins inside Shuford Arena. They still hold program records for points in a game (121), and field goals (1,178) and field goal attempts (2,481) in a single season. They scored 100+ points five times that season, a record that stood until the 2025-26 version of the Bears did it six times. This team was part of a five year stretch that saw Lenoir-Rhyne win more games than any women's collegiate team in North Carolina, including threes straight NCAIAW State Titles.