Former University of Alaska Anchorage women's basketball coach Linda Bruns passed away Thursday at her home in Flagstaff, Ariz., after a long battle with cancer. She was 66.

Bruns accumulated a program-record 176 career victories over 11 seasons (1979-90) at UAA. The Great Falls, Mont., native took over a struggling Seawolf women's program and turned it around, posting a 149-73 (.671) record over her last eight seasons.

After joining the Continental Divide Conference in 1984-85, Bruns' squads won three league titles and placed runner-up once. Those Seawolf teams also made three NCAA Tournament appearances, including the 1987-88 team that went 24-5, finished a perfect 14-0 in the CDC and made the NCAA “Sweet 16” round.

Bruns helped recruit and shape successful players at UAA, including Seawolf Hall of Fame inductees Robin Graul ? the school's all-time leading scorer ? Cheryl Bishop and Wendy Sturgis, plus other such standouts as Debbie Clare, Diane Dobrich and Greta Fadness.

Bruns went on to coach three seasons at Division I Northern Arizona in Flagstaff, and later became a local business owner.

“Linda's passing is a terrible loss to the UAA athletics community, and especially the Seawolf women's basketball family. Our hearts and deepest sympathies go out to her family and friends,” said UAA associate athletic director Tim McDiffett. “Linda literally built the women's basketball program here at UAA from nothing into a very successful, well-respected program. She was a great competitor, leader and teacher, and she leaves a tremendous legacy of successful student-athletes. Those of us that had the pleasure to work with her will most remember her easy smile, great sense of humor ? and her own athletic abilities. What many may not know is that she was one of the best women's racquetball players and golfers in the state. Linda held herself and those around her to a very high standard and we will miss her.”