NORFOLK, Va. – The Hampton University Department of Athletics won its 12th straight Mary McLeod Bethune Women’s All-Sports Award, denoting the overall strength of the women’s program in 2012-13, the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) announced on Friday.
The MEAC presented the university with a check for $20,000 during a reception at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Orlando, Fla. on Tuesday.
“I extend congratulations to Hampton University and President William R. Harvey, Director of Athletics Novelle Dickenson, and all of the outstanding individuals, including staff, coaches, and student-athletes, who were involved in winning the Mary McLeod Bethune Award,” MEAC Commissioner Dennis Thomas said.
Hampton’s women’s programs totaled 100.5 points over the past academic year, thanks to conference titles in indoor track & field, basketball, outdoor track & field, and softball. The Lady Pirates earned the MEAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Basketball and Softball Tournaments.
Florida A&M was second in the women’s standings, while Maryland Eastern Shore was third and Morgan State was fourth.
Norfolk State won its ninth straight Talmadge Layman Hill Men’s Award.
The Mary McLeod Bethune Award, named after the founder of Bethune-Cookman, awards the top overall women’s athletic program during the course of one full academic year. The first Mary McLeod Bethune Award was given to Delaware State in 1987.
Hampton leads all MEAC schools with 11 such awards.
Points are awarded in a descending order beginning with 14 points for champions or first place regular season finishes. The second place teams get 12 points.
Tied teams split the total points.
For more information on Hampton University athletics, please call the Office of Sports Information at (757) 727-5811, or visit the official Pirates website at www.hamptonpirates.com.