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Iowa high school, Drake basketball icon Lisa Brinkmeyer dies after battle with brain cancer

Dargan Southard, Des Moines Register
·4 min read
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A beloved athletics figure in the state of Iowa, Lisa Brinkmeyer VanDeventer has died after a year-plus battle with brain cancer.

Brinkmeyer has been an Iowa basketball legend and avid Drake supporter for decades. Her status in the state resulted in a constant outpouring of support, both throughout her battle and after her death became public.

At Hubbard-Radcliffe High School, Brinkmeyer was a three-sport standout with basketball surfacing above the rest. She played in the state's final 6-on-6 championship game and was named Miss Iowa Basketball in 1993. Brinkmeyer finished her high school career with 3,615 points.

At Drake, Brinkmeyer earned All-Missouri Valley Conference honorable mention honors as a junior and senior. She led the team to MVC regular-season titles in 1997 and 1998 and tournament championships in 1995, 1997 and 1998. Those Drake squads went to the NCAA Tournament three times.

Brinkmeyer served as a Drake women's basketball assistant coach from 1998-2000 before embarking on a career with the IGHSAU, where she was an assistant director in charge of volleyball, golf and soccer.

More: 5 things to know about Lisa Brinkmeyer, a basketball legend in Iowa battling brain cancer

Brinkmeyer was also an influential person in organizing various Drake events, whether that be former team gatherings, alumni games or other get-to-togethers. Her ability to connect Bulldogs of past and present is one of the reasons Brinkmeyer is so beloved.

Talk to anyone about Brinkmeyer, and they'll bring up her selfless attitude and welcoming personality. That's why so many were willing to help in any way possible throughout her cancer battle.

More: Iowa high school and Drake basketball icon Lisa Brinkmeyer is in the battle of her life

One example came during Drake's game against Iowa on Nov. 13 at the Knapp Center. Members of both coaching staffs wore "Brink's Bench" T-shirts.

Iowa women's basketball head coach Lisa Bluder wearing a T-shirt the reads 'Brink's Bench' in support of Lisa Brinkmeyer during a game against Drake in 2022
Iowa women's basketball head coach Lisa Bluder wearing a T-shirt the reads 'Brink's Bench' in support of Lisa Brinkmeyer during a game against Drake in 2022

"She inspires every one of us for her fight, for her friendship and for her loyalty and for her love of the Bulldogs," Iowa women's basketball coach Lisa Bluder told the Des Moines Register in January.

A quick scan of social media Friday revealed further just how important Brinkmeyer was to the state of Iowa.

Dargan Southard is a sports trending reporter and covers Iowa athletics for the Des Moines Register and HawkCentral.com. Follow him on Twitter at @Dargan_Southard.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Drake basketball icon Lisa Brinkmeyer dies after brain-cancer battle