Bulldogs finish fourth in 2012-13 Commissioner's Cup

SMITHFIELD, R.I. – Coming off arguably its most successful season at the Division I level, Bryant University Athletics finished fourth in the 2012-13 Brenda Weare Commissioner’s Cup
Overall Standings, announced by the Northeast Conference on Wednesday.

The Bulldogs’ fourth place overall standing snaps a streak of three-straight 10th place finishes dating back to its inaugural season of NEC play in 2009-10. In just its first year of DI eligibility, Bryant celebrated its first two NCAA DI Tournament teams (men’s lacrosse and baseball). Additionally, five Bulldog teams earned their first ever Northeast Conference Tournament berths.

On the men’s side, Bryant finished just one spot shy of the top, finishing second behind just Monmouth, improving on their previous top finish of ninth overall. The Bryant women also improved, finishing eighth overall, improving two spots from last season’s standings (best finish ninth in 2010-11).

The Brenda Weare Commissioner’s Cup serves as a symbol of broad-based athletic excellence within the Northeast Conference (NEC). The NEC Commissioner’s Cup was instituted during the 1986-87 season with Long Island winning the inaugural award.  Monmouth and Fairleigh Dickinson lead all NEC schools with seven and six Cups to their credit, respectively.  Cup points are awarded in each NEC sponsored sport.  For men’s and women’s basketball, men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, football, women’s bowling, softball, field hockey, men’s and women’s lacrosse, and baseball, the final regular season standings are used to determine Cup points.  Starting with the 2012-13 season, the Conference began awarding three bonus points to the NEC Tournament champion in those sports.  In all other sports, points are awarded based on the finish at NEC Championship events. The Commissioner’s Cup was renamed in Brenda Weare’s honor in May of 2009.

For the complete 2012-13 Brenda Weare Commissioner’s Cup story, click here.