She coached the St. Thomas the Apostle High School girls' basketball team to back-to-back undefeated seasons and league championships before being hired at Michigan.
[1] The official colors of the Michigan women's basketball program, as with all other sports, are maize and blue.
University of Michigan faculty member Vic Katch coached the team during its first season.
In her first year as head coach, Borders had difficulty recruiting students to play on the team.
"[3] Borders' first team at Michigan had no returning seniors and no players above five feet, ten inches, and was made up of four freshwoman, three sophomores, and two juniors.
[4] Junior guard Lydia Sims led the team with an average of 18.7 points per game.
[4] During the 1976–77 season, the team added two junior college transfers (Sheila Butler and Linda Gardner), and Borders opined at the start of the season that, with more height, speed, and experience, the Michigan women's basketball program had "come of age.