VALPARAISO | The association between Judy Miller and Valparaiso University dates back to 1966, when Miller was a freshman English major.
"Gene Bartow was the coach," Miller recalled before Tuesday's Horizon League Championship at the Athletics-Recreation Center.
Close to five decades later, the brown and gold still runs deep in Miller, who has called Valparaiso home since 1978. She is a member of two athletic committees, not to mention a season ticket holder.
Miller was part of a sell-out crowd that cheered the Crusaders to their first Horizon League tournament championship and the corresponding automatic bid to this year's NCAA tournament.
The Crusaders trailed by as many as 10 points, but came back in the final minutes to put visiting Wright State away with a 62-54 win at home.
Miller sat in the last row of the lower level on the north side of the ARC, keeping a score sheet. Seated in front of her were Travis and Melissa Somers, of Valparaiso.
"It's going to be bittersweet," Melissa Somers said. "We know this is going to be our last chance to see them. We want them to go out with a win."
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