TriCounty Lorene Ramsey's 1998-99 basketball season was her best ever, finishing at 34-2. In the process, her charges won the ICC Invitational Tournament, the Cougar Holiday Tournament and repeated as NJCAA Division II Women's National Basketball champions. It was her fourth national basketball title in this decade.
The Illinois Central College legend ended the season with 763 victories, a record among female coaches at any level. In addition, two of Lorene's players (Beth Zeone and Marlena Williams) earned NJCAA Division II All-American honors. The 34 victories was an ICC record.
Ramsey was named 1999 Region XXIV Coach of the Year, 1999 NJCAA Division II Coach of the Year and the 1999 Women's Basketball Coaches Association Junior College Coach of the Year. Already a member of the Women's Softball Hall of Fame, Lorene will be among the second class of inductees into the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame in Knoxville, Tennessee in June.
In addition, Lorene Ramsey becomes the first person to win three consecutive Tri-County awards. This is her sixth overall.