Lillie Brown still ranks as one of the top women’s basketball players at Southwest Minnesota State University. She was a four-year letterwinner for the Mustangs and finished her career among the top five in nearly every offensive statistical category in program history. As of 2014, she still ranks first in school history in steals (300), second in points scored (1,759), second in field goals made (706), second in rebounds (895), sixth in assists (341) and seventh in free throws made (302). She was inducted in to the SMSU Hall of Honor in 2007 and Harding High School Hall of Fame in 1997.
A three-time first team All-NSIC honoree (1994, 1995, 1996), Brown became SMSU’s first ever women’s basketball All-America in 1995 earning third team honors. During her junior season in 1994-95, Brown became the first woman in SMSU history to average more than 20 points and 10 rebounds per game, finishing at 22.2 points and 10.8 rebounds per contest. Brown, who led SMSU in scoring and rebounding 19 times during the season and also led the NSIC in rebounding, set two school single-season records during that season as she poured in 577 points and connected on 228 field goals. She nearly set a third record, as her 282 rebounds were just two shy of the single-season mark.
As a senior in 1995-96, she earned honorable mention NCAA All-America honors as she averaged 20 points and 9.4 rebounds per game, leading the NSIC in both categories, while shooting 53.6 percent from the field. Brown led SMSU in steals all four seasons and in scoring and rebounding her final three seasons. She also was the team leader in both field goal percentage and assists twice during her four seasons.
During her last two seasons she helped SMSU to a combined record of 36-17, which included back-to-back third place finishes in the NSIC in 1995 and 1996. In 1994, Brown helped lead SMSU to the championship game of the NAIA District playoffs before losing to Minnesota Duluth, 61-59. SMSU recorded 16 or more victories in three of her four seasons, including 19 in 1995-96, which – at the time – tied a school record for victories in one season.
Brown recorded SMSU’s only triple-double on Nov. 25, 1995, versus Minnesota State.
A native of St. Paul, Minn., Brown earned a bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Studies and BA in Business Administration from Southwest Minnesota State University in 1996. After working three years for the Sioux Falls Skyforce as a Marketing Consultant, she moved on to Rockford, Ill. to serve as the General Manager of the Rockford Lightning of the CBA.
Brown and her son Hayden (10) reside in Sioux Falls, S.D. where she is currently a Marketing Consultant for Results Radio/Townsquaremedia and the General Manager of the Dakota Blue Devils AAU Basketball Club.