SAN ANGELO, Texas – Angelo State women's basketball will be honoring the inaugural 1975-76 team on Saturday during halftime of the Belles' 5:30 p.m. game against Abilene Christian at Stephens Arena in the Junell Center.
 
Known as the “Battlin' Babes”, the 1975-76 team was one of the first women's collegiate teams to play at Angelo State. The Belles played their first ever contest on Nov. 7, 1975 against West Texas State (now West Texas A&M) in which the Babes won 58-51 in San Angelo.
 
The Battlin' Babes finished the inaugural season with a 13-14 record overall. Highlights included victories over current LSC foe West Texas A&M and a 11-point win over Texas Tech.
 
Perhaps the biggest impact that the first Belles had that season was the future impact of female collegiate athletics at Angelo State as volleyball, softball and women's track and field teams were developed soon after in the late 1970s.
 
Along with the later additions of women's soccer and golf, female collegiate team's at ASU have went on to become some of the most successful programs in NCAA Division II with 18 combined LSC Championships and two NCAA Division II National Championships.
 
Dr. Carole Smith was the head coach of the team and the first Women's Director of Athletics at ASU. Members of that first team were Debbie Arant, Sallye Burke, Lillie Castellano, Perri Clark, Carla Dillard, Elma Gallegos, Sally Echols Itz, Trudie Jackson, Linda Kadlacek, Patsy McIntire, Tandy Medford, Lisa Hirt Miksch, Madolyn Nasworthy, Debbie Peiser and Karen Loeffler Verell.
 
Expected to be in attendance, but not limited to, are Dr. Smith, Nasworthy, Verell, Miksch, Itz, Clark, Castellano and McIntyre.