ABILENE – Abilene Christian athletics posted its fourth-consecutive top-half showing in the race for the Southland Conference Commissioner's Cup, totaling 124.0 points between its 16 men's and women's intercollegiate sports.
In finishing sixth for the third time in the last four seasons, the Wildcats received 70.0 points from its women student-athletes and 54.0 from its men – an eight-point improvement over last season as gains were made in cross country, basketball, football, golf and outdoor track (conference runner-up).
Lance Bingham's cross country / track and field program also posted the three best showings on the women's side. The Wildcats began the 2017-18 academic year winning their second cross country championship in three years and later placed fourth at the indoor and outdoor meets.
"I'm extremely proud of our student-athletes, coaches and staff for helping us finish in the top half of the Southland Conference Commissioner's Cup for the fourth year in a row," said ACU Director of Athletics Lee De Leon. "This is an incredible accomplishment, and I'm thankful for everyone's hard work and commitment to excellence across the board."
Sam Houston State won the men's and school crowns with 82.0 and 157.5 points, respectively, while the women's title (88.5) and overall runner-up honors (152.0) went to Stephen F. Austin. McNeese placed third with 146.5 points followed by Lamar (137.5) and Central Arkansas (136.5).
Finishing behind the Wildcats were Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (113.5), Incarnate Word (105.5), Northwestern State (98.5), Southeastern Louisiana (97.0), Houston Baptist (88.5), Nicholls (80.5) and New Orleans (56.5).
ACU has finished ahead of UIW, UNO and HBU in all five Southland Commissioner Cup chases since the four schools entered the conference together prior to the 2013-14 academic year.
The Wildcats placed ninth in their first D1 season after rejoining the Southland Conference, but finished third (147.5) just two seasons later on the strength of league championships won by women's cross country and women's basketball. The 2015-16 season featured seven ACU teams that finished third or higher in their respective standings.
The Commissioner's Cup and All-Sports Awards will be presented at the Southland Conference Honors Dinner on Tuesday, May 22 at the Westin Stonebriar Hotel in Frisco, Texas.
The Men's and Women's All-Sports trophies are awarded annually for men's and women's competition based on a 13-point system for all conference sports, with the Commissioner's Cup being awarded to the program with the most combined all-sports points.
Points are awarded from 13 to 1 according to place of finish in final conference standings in sports with regular seasons, or placement in conference championships for sports without regular seasons. If teams are tied in standings or placement, points for the given spots are distributed evenly. Points are awarded regardless of the number of teams that sponsor a given sport.
Beach volleyball, which is sponsored by several Southland schools including ACU, is the only varsity sport not included in the standings.
