On Dec 6, 1974, the Wisconsin women's basketball team took the court for the first time as a member of the AIAW, which at the time was the governing body for women's collegiate athletics. The Badgers, or Badgerettes as they were called by some, had been a club team in prior years, but they were now an official sport at the university.
Coach Marilyn Harris had been the coach of the club team and she greatly appreciated the improved status of her team. She was now allowed to select her practice time and the team was given priority over the men's jv team in choosing times.
Harris carried of 18 players. She felt that, because of her players' inexperience, some would improve more rapidly than others. So, before every game, she selected 15 players to dress and chose a starting lineup. This lineup varied from game to game.
Wisconsin opened at the pre-season Big 10 tournament, where their 2-2 record was good enough for second place. They beat Minnesota and Iowa. They suffered a one point loss to Illinois and were blown out by an Indiana team led by somebody named Vanderveer, Tara I think the first name is.
The Badgerettes played in the Central Conference with our Wisconsin schools. They finished in a second place tie behind powerful LaCrosse.
Attendance figures are not available, although they likely averaged several hundred fans a game. They did play one double-header game with the men, with the men playing first. An estimated 1,000 fans stayed for the start of the women's game, although most were gone by halftime.
The team was led by post players Martha Calden and Bev Buhr and guard Kristi Condon. Calden was the first real star of the team, while Buhr can still be seen every year in the alumni game.
A post-season banquet was held at the Brat und Brau restaurant on Regent Street. The team gave out a number of awards. Here are a few:
MVP: Martha Calden
Best Shooter: Martha Calden
Best Dribbler: Kristi Condon
Most Hard Nosed: Kristi Condon
Best Groomed Girl: Tasha Bolton
Roster
| Player | Number W/R | Year | Height |
| Diane Sennett | 10/10 | Soph | 5'5 |
| Bo Williams | 11/11 | Frosh | 5'3 |
| Kathy Soellner | 12/12 | Soph | 5'3 |
| Tasha Bolton | 13/13 | Frosh | 5'4 |
| Jean Bormett | 14/14 | Junior | 5'5 |
| Ellen Mason | 15/15 | Frosh | 5'6 |
| Becky Johnson | 21/21 | Soph | 5'8 |
| Martha Calden | 22/22 | Junior | 5'8 |
| Karen Parks | 43/33 | Frosh | 5'6 |
| Maureen Holloway | 24/24 | Soph | 5'8 |
| Bev Buhr | 25/25 | Senior | 5'10 |
| Kim Bertagnoli | 30/30 | Frosh | 5'9 |
| Randee Burke | 31/43 | Senior | 5'9 |
| Kristi Condon | 32/32 | Frosh | 5'7 |
| Sally Christenson | 34/34 | Junior | 5'7 |
| Kathy Galligan | 35/35 | Frosh | 5'4 |
| Joan Purcell | 40/40 | Soph | 5'8 |
| Mary Bebow | 44/44 | Frosh | 5'7 |
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