University of Northwestern Athletics

Basketball 1945-'48

They didn’t have much.  No gym.  No team van.  No conference.  No school uniforms.  One thing the pioneers of Northwestern College women’s sports did have was Betty Drown, and enthusiastic, high scoring forward from Curlew, Iowa.  Betty propelled the fledgling basketball club to many victories, including huge wins over Bethel and the U of M in the undefeated season of 1947-'48, Betty’s third and final year.  Northwestern also gained a faithful prayer warrior and supporter.  A missions major, Betty was a member of the Missions Prayer Band.

Betty’s biggest cheerleader, George Asp (class of 1950), became her husband soon after graduation.  He was also the team “bus driver,” squeezing in as many players as his old Ford could hold.  Betty and George teamed together for a lifetime of pastoral ministries in the Minnesota communities of Argyle, Long Prairie, Kerkhoven, Rush City, Taylors Falls, and Lake Crystal.  Betty continues to rally Northwestern teams of alums, now as chair of the Class of 1948.