Hall of Fame
Led by Missouri Western alum and Hall of Fame coach Dave Slifer (2018 MWSU Hall of Fame Class), the Griffons won both the MIAA regular season and conference tournament championship, going 24-7 overall and 14-4 in league play. In Slifer's second season at the helm, his team topped Central Missouri 53-46 in the MIAA tournament championship game played at the MWSU Fieldhouse in 1997. The Griffons were an automatic qualifier and the No. 1 seed for the NCAA South Central Regional Tournament, which was hosted by Missouri Western. The Griffons earned a first-round bye, topping Abilene Christian 75-71 in regional semifinals before falling to West Texas A&M in the Regional Final. Slifer was named MIAA Coach of the Year in 1997. Jenny Marr (2018 MWSU Hall of Fame Class) earned first team all-MIAA honors, was named the MIAA's Co-Most Valuable Player and was a member of the Bulletin Honorable Mention All-America Team. The honors didn't stop there, as Toni Wood earned second-team all-MIAA status, while Sara Elgin, Stephanie Jackson, Brigitte Gittens and Dana Obersteadt were honorable mention all-MIAA selections.
