November 29, 2006

TCNJ'S HENDERSON CAPTURES HER 300TH CAREER
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACHING VICTORY

REACHES MILESTONE WITH 53-48 WIN OVER URSINUS ON NOVEMBER 18

With a 53-48 victory over Ursinus in the opening round of the Starter’s Pub Tip-Off Tournament at DeSales on November 18, TCNJ head women's basketball coach Dawn Henderson captured her 300th career coaching victory. Now in her 17th year as a collegiate coach and 13th season at TCNJ, Henderson raised her career coaching mark to 300-143 with the win.

In her 13 seasons at the helm of the Lions' program, Henderson has guided TCNJ to unprecedented success. In 2005-06, TCNJ returned to the NCAA Division III Tournament after capturing the 2005-06 NJAC championship for the third time as the Lions knocked off top-seeded Richard Stockton College. In 2004-05, TCNJ won the regular season title in the NJAC with a solid 14-2 conference mark.

The 2003-2004 season culminated with the Lions advancing to the NCAA Second Round after defeating Hunter College in the first round after hosting the 2004 NJAC Championship game for the fourth year in a row. In the championship game, the Lions won the program’s second NJAC title beating William Paterson University.

In 1996–1997, the Lions returned to the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament after a nine-year absence. TCNJ sported an 18-9 log, collecting an 80-71 win over Colby-Sawyer College in the NCAA First Round before falling to Marymount (VA) University in the second round. 

In her fifth season at TCNJ, the team finished with a 19-8 mark and earned a bid to the 1998 NCAA Tournament as the Lions were ranked third in the Atlantic Region. In NCAA action, the Lions advanced to the second round for the second time in as many years.

The 1998–1999 campaign was the breakout year for the Lions as the squad established several new records for the women’s basketball program, including being 24-0 during the regular season and winning 25 consecutive games. The Lions went 25-2 on the year and earned the program’s seventh NCAA berth, being one of just three programs nationally (on any level) to have gone undefeated during the regular season. 

Henderson's 1999-2000 team finished 18-0 in the NJAC to take first in the league for the first time in school history. By the end of the season, TCNJ had been recognized by several organizations for its accomplishments, including a No. 2 ranking in the Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Association (WBCA) Division III poll.  Henderson was once again named the NJAC Coach of the Year, while the New Jersey Collegiate Basketball Coaches’ Association (NJCBCA) tapped the Lions’ coaching staff as the best in the state.

In 2000–2001 season, TCNJ earned the program’s eighth NCAA Tournament appearance and advanced to its first-ever NCAA Elite Eight. TCNJ finished 25-4 overall and the team went 18-0 in the NJAC to claim the regular-season first-place spot for the second time in program history.  The Lions also garnered the College’s first-ever NJAC Championship with a 63-46 win over Richard Stockton College.  For her leadership, Henderson was honored as the 2001 WBCA District III Regional Coach of the Year. 

The 2001–2002 campaign saw TCNJ rebounding from a 2-5 start to then go 17-3, including an 11-game win streak during the second half of the season.  The Lions ended the year with an overall record of 19-8, going 14-4 in the league to finish as the regular-season champions for the third time in four years. Henderson was named the 2002 NJAC Co-Coach of the Year for her efforts.

Henderson previously served as the head women’s basketball coach at Worcester State (MA) College (1988-1990) and Drew (NJ) University (1990-1992) and came to TCNJ from South Hunterdon Regional High School in Lambertville, New Jersey.  In Division III, she ranks 42nd by wins and 43rd by win percentage.

In addition to her role as head women’s basketball coach, Henderson serves as TCNJ’s senior woman administrator and as the senior associate athletic director.