Three former players inducted into WBCA Hall of Fame
October 01, 2014 | Women's Basketball
Oct. 1, 2014
MADISON, Wis.-- The Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association inducted three former University of Wisconsin women's basketball players into the WBCA Hall of Fame at the annual induction banquet in Wisconsin Dells on Sept. 27.
Former Badgers Karen (O'Malley) Crowley, Ann Klapperich and Jennah Hartwig were announced as part of the WBCA Hall of Fame Class of 2014 last spring. This year's class included six women's basketball players overall, along with multiple high school coaches, referees, men's players and others who have made large contributions to the game of high school basketball in Wisconsin.
Former basketball players can be nominated for the WBCA Hall of Fame 10 years after finishing their high school playing careers.
Madison native Karen Crowley signed with the Badgers in 1985 after an impressive career at Madison East High School. She scored 1,526 total points in her prep career and 583 in one season, setting the school record in both categories. Crowley holds an array of Big Eight scoring records, leading the conference with 376 points her senior year and setting the single-game scoring record with 37. She averaged 24 points as senior, and was awarded Associated Press (AP) first team all-state, all-conference, all-area and all-city honors.
Following a successful high school career that also included letters in volleyball and softball, the 5-7 guard played as the Badgers' starting point guard from 1985-88. During that time, she played in 81 games and average 6.7 points and 4.2 rebounds per game. Crowley's career with UW was cut short due to health issues, but she still holds the school record for most assists in a Big Ten Conference game after tallying 14 against Minnesota on Jan. 10, 1988.
Hailing from the city of Fond du Lac, Ann Klapperich received player of the year honors from the Fox Valley Conference three times during her career with Fond du Lac High School's girls' basketball team. She was also selected for the AP All-State team during all four of her high school years, and was named the AP Player of the Year her senior year. She led the Fond du Lac Cardinals with an average of 21.1 points and 14 rebounds per game during her senior season.
Upon her graduation from high school in 1994, Klapperich began a monumental career with the Badgers. The 6-2 forward was part of a program-best winning percentage of .672, winning a school record of 78 games during her time at UW. The Badgers appeared in three NCAA tournaments during Klapperich's years, and her 1,543 total career points ranks ninth on the school's all-time list. Her overall field goal percentage of .509 (598 made - 1,175 attempts) is the fourth-best on the all-time list, while her career points-per-game average of 13.65 ranks eighth.
Janesville native Jennah Hartwig played for Janesville Parker High School from 1989-93, during which she helped lead the squad to four consecutive state basketball tournaments and two appearances in the state championship games. After being one of the top Division I scorers during all of her high school seasons, she was named the state's Player of the Year in 1993 following her senior year.
The 6-0 played for the Badgers from 1993-98, taking a year off after her freshman season to raise her newborn daughter, Ashley. She averaged 5.2 points per game at UW, and recorded a .492 overall field goal percentage (220 made - 447 attempts).
