Denise Sparkman was one of the first great basketball players at Idaho. A two-time first team All-American, Sparkman led the Vandal women to three straight Region IX titles, three straight AIAW national tournaments and a No. 12 national ranking. She earned every honor available to her in basketball – All-League, All-Region, All-Regional Tournament Team and All-America. By the time she finished her career, she had literally rewritten the record books. Upon graduation, she held basically every offensive school record – 19 in all, and still holds three to this day. She finished her career with 1,935 points and 959 rebounds. She made a school-record 804 field goals on career .539 shooting. Her 277 rebounds in 1980-81 are a school record, as are her two 17-field-goal games in the 1981-82 season. She also led the Vandals to their team-record 20-game win streak in 1981-82.