Another Havre legend made history earlier this month. Former Blue Pony basketball standout Loree Payne secured her 118th career win as the head women’s coach at Northern Arizona University, making her the most victorious figurehead in the program’s history.
Payne, who is now in her eighth season as the head coach at NAU, playing for the Ponies from 1995-99 and is the Lady Pony record-holder with points in a game with 45, assists in a game with 12, and much more. Her freshman year at Havre High ended in heartbreak, losing to Dillon in the State ‘A’ title game, but her junior season was turning that result upside down with a win over the Beavers.
After completing her high school education, she made waves by scoring 17.4 points a game at the University of Washington her freshman season. This would be her first chance at a turnaround as her Huskies went from eight wins to 24 to 21 and finally 22 as a senior. After ascending the coaching ranks as an assistant, including at her alma mater for the final three seasons, she got her first crack at a head job at the University of Puget Sound, also in Washington state starting with the 2010-11 season.
She had immediate success with the Lady Loggers, never finishing below .500 overall and making the steady climb to an undefeated conference record in 2016-17. That mark attracted Flagstaff, AZ to give her a call and a chance to go back to Division I, where she has excelled ever since.
Congratulations to former Havre High Blue Pony basketball player Loree Payne on continuing to break records.
