Bilyeu, multiple OVC champion, to be inducted into TTU Sports Hall of Fame
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - While a Golden Eaglette for just two seasons after her transfer from Motlow State, Dana Bilyeu McWilliams made every minute count while donning the purple and the gold. And she played her fair share of them.
By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - While a Golden Eaglette for just two seasons after her transfer from Motlow State, Dana Bilyeu McWilliams made every minute count while donning the purple and the gold. And she played her fair share of them.
Averaging over 31 minutes per game from 1991-93, her drive and determination were constantly on display, making her an easy selection as team captain her first season in Cookeville. Also helping her case, other than the unquestionable leadership qualities, were here ability to score, distribute the ball and play defense.
Bilyeu will be inducted as part of the 2018 Tennessee Tech Sports Hall of Fame class on Friday, Nov. 2 at the Multipurpose Room of the University Center at 6:30 p.m. CT. Tickets are available through the Hooper Eblen Center ticket office, by calling 931-372-3940 or by visiting TTUSports.com.
As a junior, Bilyeu averaged 14.2 points, a team-high 4.7 assists and 1.8 steals per game, firing at an impressive 38.9 percent clip from beyond the 3-point line. She knocked down a whopping 81 triples on the year, the second-most in program history (a mark that still ranks third today).
With her guidance as a point guard and wing, Tech claimed both the Ohio Valley Conference regular season and tournament titles, as well as a bid to the NCAA Tournament. Bilyeu earned All-OVC accolades and a selection to the OVC All-Tournament Team.
Coming back for her senior season, she made it a point to not come off the floor more than she had to. Averaging 36.9 minutes per game, Bilyeu once again was selected as a team captain while finishing with a stat line of 15.5 points per game, an OVC-leading 6.1 assists per game, and 1.9 steals per game. Her 74 made 3-pointers still ranks as the most-ever by a Golden Eaglette senior.
Tech repeated as OVC regular season and tournament champs in 1992-93, with Bilyeu earning All-OVC and OVC All-Tournament honors again while guiding her team to another NCAA Tournament appearance.
Her 876 career points rank as the second-most in program history for a two-year player, behind only teammate Roschelle Vaughn. Bilyeu also finished her career ninth all-time in assists (still ranking in the top-15 today), leading the Golden Eagles both seasons. She averaged 14.8 points and 5.4 assists for her career. The Baxter, Tenn. native also set the school record for 3-pointers in a single game, sinking nine against UT Martin as a senior. It still ranks second today.
Following her brief, albeit impressive, Tech career, Bilyeu continued to be a leader in the basketball world, taking over the coaching ranks at her alma mater, Upperman High School, as a 23-year-old. She led the Lady Bees to its first district championship in 1998, followed quickly by a state runner-up finish one year later.
In 2017 and 2018, she guided UHS to back-to-back TSSAA Division I, Class AA state titles, the first in school history. Also in 2018, she captured her 600th career win at the helm of the program.
Bilyeu graduate from Tennessee Tech in 1994 with a degree in health and physical education.
Photo by TTU Sports Information
