Northwestern State University of Louisana

Lou Baxter's activism and advocacy put Northwestern at the forefront of intercollegiate women's athletics in Louisiana. Northwestern had the first women's basketball team of the post WWII era in Louisiana, in 1966-67. Other state colleges gradual followed suit, prodded along by Baxter. Northwestern hosted the state's first women's basketball tournament that year. It hosted the first camp for high school girls basketball players in 1973, Baxter, a physical education professor, served as volunteer basketball coach for the "Demonettes."  Along with setting precedents, the "Demonettes" established the winning tradition that remain today. From 1967-74, the team had a 70-31 record record while competing against many squads that were fully funded by their university. The most noteworthy achievement was receiving an invitation to the 1973 National Women's Invitational Tournament. By the time the athletic department took over funding the program for the 74-75 season, the "Demonettes" had filled two trophy cases in the P.E. Majors Building.