PELLA — It was 25 years ago when the Central College women's basketball team surprised all of Division III with a five-game postseason run to the national title. Several members of that team will be back in Pella to be recognized during the women's game against Buena Vista University on Saturday

Coach Gary Boeink and the Dutch were a surprise winner of the women's basketball program's first outright Iowa Conference championship and entered the NCAA Division III tournament unranked. But Central eliminated Augustana College (Ill.) in the first round and then emerged as the unexpected winner of a four-team regional at Pella, knocking off the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire and Wartburg College.

Central was selected to host the Final Four and played in front of a standing-room only crowd at Kuyper Gym. Playing No. 1-ranked and undefeated College of St. Benedict (Minn.) in the national semifinal, forward Emilie Hanson hit a last-second rebound basket for a 60-59 upset. The following night, Central came from behind against Capital University (Ohio) to capture the national championship, 71-63. The team finished with a 24-5 record, the best in school history.

The players and Coach Boeyink will be recognized at halftime of the game against the Beavers. That contest will start at 2 p.m. in P.H. Kuyper Gymnasium.