The 1991-92 Lady Toppers will be inducted into the WKU Athletics Hall of Fame Saturday when WKU hosts Florida International at Diddle Arena. The 1992 Lady Toppers were the NCAA Tournament runners-up and were coached by the legendary coach Paul Sanderford.

Sanderford led three Lady Topper teams to the Final Four. He is the all-time winningest WKU Women’s Basketball coach, winning 365 games during his tenure with the Lady Toppers.

The Hall of Fame roster included: Jennifer Berryman, LaTonia Bland, Ida Bowen, Veronica Cook, Debbie Houck, Kristie Jordan, Liesa Lang, Stephanie Minor, Paulette Monroe, Kim Pehlke, Lea Robinson, Debbie Scott, Kim Warfield, Renee Westmoreland and Trina Wilson.

Kim Pehlke racked up the awards that season, winning the NCAA Regional Most Outstanding Player and the Sun Belt Tournament Most Outstanding Player along with All-Regional team, All-Conference first team and Sun Belt All-Tournament team.

Monroe and Scott were also named to the NCAA All-Regional team. Monroe was awarded All-Conference First team while Westmoreland was named to the Sun Belt All-Tournament team.

WKU went 27-4 that year, becoming regular co-Sun Belt Champions and winning the Sun Belt Tournament. The 1991-92 team defeated Alabama, Tennessee and Maryland en route to the Final Four, winning the Mideast Regional in the NCAA Tournament. 

WKU defeated Missouri State in the Final Four to advance to the championship game against Stanford. The Lady Toppers lost the National Championship to Stanford 78-62.

In celebration of the legendary squad, WKU will be giving away retro “shirseys” to the first 500 fans. The “shirsey” was designed to look like the Lady Toppers’ jerseys from the 1992 season while including Pehlke’s No. 21.

The Lady Toppers play the Florida International Panthers Saturday at noon.

Women’s basketball reporter Joseph Thompson can be reached at [email protected].