One of the first superstars in the history of women's basketball
at Bowdoin, Amy Harper Munger laid the groundwork for a program
that is now a nationally recognized power. An on-court leader and
unstoppable scorer, she became the first women's basketball
All-American in Bowdoin history.
Harper came to Bowdoin from Doherty Memorial High School in
Worcester, Massachusetts, and made an immediate impact, leading the
squad with 12.4 points per game as a freshman. On a cold evening in
early February of her rookie season, the newcomer gave a glimpse of
the future, posting a school-record 34 points in a 55-53 win
against the University of New England. As a sophomore, Harper again
led the team in scoring, tallying 14.4 points per contest and
earning the program's first-ever Alumnae Award, rewarding the
women's basketball player who "best exemplifies the spirit of
Bowdoin Women's Basketball, combining talent with unselfish play
and good sportsmanship." At that point, there was little doubt
about Harper's talent, as she set school marks for most free throws
in a season and established a new single-game record by scoring 38
points against St. Joseph's.
Her junior and senior seasons placed Harper among elite company in
college basketball. She averaged 18.4 and 18.9 points per game in
back-to-back stellar campaigns, but also became an incredible
all-around talent and leader, serving as captain both years In the
1984-85 season, she set single-game Bowdoin records in assists
(10), steals (11) and field goals made (14). That year she became
only the second Bowdoin woman to score 1,000 points, and then
cruised to a school record of 1,316 career points. She led the team
to its first-ever postseason appearance, in which they reached the
finals of the Northeast Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
tournament before bowing to Conn. College.
At the conclusion of the 1984-85 season, Harper was named the New
England Small College Player of the Year and First-Team All-New
England, and was honored as an All-American, taking First-Team
College Division honors. Harper's domination has withstood the test
of time and is more remarkable given that she played prior to the
three-point-shot era. She still holds the top five single-game
scoring marks in Bowdoin history and is third on the College's
all-time scoring list, despite not appearing in the top ten of
games played. Her mark of 370 career free-throws still stands, and
she also graduated holding the single-season marks in assists (124,
currently third) and steals (107, currently second), records which
have since been broken.
Harper was also an outstanding four-year tennis player for the
Polar Bears, serving as captain her senior year. The 1981 team went
13-1, tying a then-school record for wins and setting a
still-standing record for best winning percentage. During her four
years, she was a three-time Maine state singles champion and also
played softball. Amy Harper Munger lives in Worcester,
Massachusetts, with her husband Bruce U. Munger, Jr. '78 and her
two children, Ursula and Heidi.
