March 26, 2008
Center Valley, Pa. - With finishes in the top half of the Patriot League in all six winter sports, Bucknell took the lead in the 2007-08 Patriot League Presidents' Cup standings with 71 overall points. The Bison have the edge in both the Men's and Women's races as well. They have 31 points in the Men's race, and 40 in the Women's.
The Patriot League sponsors six sports during the winter season, with men's and women's basketball, men's and women's swimming and diving and men's and women's indoor track and field. Each Patriot League member participates in all six of the winter sports.
Bucknell captured the women's indoor track and field title, and placed second in men's indoor track and field and men's swimming and diving. The Bison won the Patriot League Women's Basketball Tournament to claim third place in overall points in that sport after placing fifth in the regular season. They also advanced to the semifinals of the Men's Basketball Tournament to pull into a tie for fourth in overall points. A third-place finish in women's swimming and diving rounded out the winter season for the Bison. Bucknell led all schools with 38.25 points in the winter sports.
Navy comes in second in the overall standings with 63.75 points. The Mids are tied for second in the Women's Race with 35 points, and in third place in the Men's with 28.75 points. Navy finished third or higher in five of the six winter sports, and earned the Patriot League Championship in men's swimming and diving and men's indoor track and field. The Mids were second in women's swimming and diving and third in men's basketball and women's indoor track and field. They notched 36 overall points in the winter sports.
Colgate and American are right behind the Mids in the overall standings, as the Raiders took third place with 62.25 points and the Eagles snagged fourth with 62 points. The Raiders won the women's swimming and diving title, and a berth in the Patriot League Championship game gave Colgate the second-most points in men's basketball. The Raiders are a close second to Bucknell in the Men's race with 30.75 points, and are in fourth in the Women's race with 31.5 points. American has 35 points to tie for second with Navy in the quest for the Women's trophy, and sits in fourth place with 27 points in the Men's competition. The Eagles received strong finishes in basketball during the winter, winning the regular-season and Tournament titles to claim first-place in men's basketball and riding the regular-season crown to a second-place overall finish in women's basketball.
The remaining four spots in the overall standings are occupied, in order, by Army (51.75), Lehigh (46.75), Lafayette (44.5) and Holy Cross (35.5). The Crusaders notched the most overall points in women's basketball after placing second in the regular-season and losing in the Patriot League Championship game to Bucknell.
Bucknell took home its 13th Patriot League Presidents' Cup at the conclusion of the 2006-07 year. Army is the only other team in League history to win the cup, taking home four trophies (1994, 1995, 1997, 2005).
Patriot League Presidents' Cup points are awarded based on a team's performance in the regular season and postseason Patriot League standings. In cross country, football, golf, rowing, swimming and diving and track and field, the points are awarded on the final team standings. In team sports with postseason tournaments, points are awarded based on a combination of the team's finish at the Patriot League championship and the regular-season standings.
2007-08 Patriot League Presidents' Cup Standings
(through Winter 2008)
Overall
1. Bucknell, 71 points
2. Navy, 63.75
3. Colgate, 62.25
4. American, 62
5. Army, 51.75
6. Lehigh 46.75
7. Lafayette 44.5
8. Holy Cross 35.5
Men
1. Bucknell, 31
2. Colgate, 30.75
3. Navy, 28.75
4. American, 27
5. Army, 24.25
6. Lehigh, 21
7. Lafayette, 20.75
8. Holy Cross, 16.5
Women
1. Bucknell, 40
2. American, 35
2. Navy, 35
4. Colgate, 31.5
5. Army, 27.5
6. Lehigh, 25.75
7. Lafayette, 23.75
8. Holy Cross, 19