June 11, 2015
CENTER VALLEY, Pa. - The Patriot League Council of Presidents approved a change in format for the Women's Basketball Tournament and named a new chairperson at its spring meeting held at the University Club in New York City last week.
The Patriot League Women's Basketball Tournament will take on a new look for the semifinal and championship rounds beginning in 2016. Both rounds will be hosted by the highest remaining seed after the quarterfinals, with the semifinals set for Friday, March 11 and the championship game held the next day. The tourney begins with the first round on Saturday, March 5 and quarterfinals on Monday, March 7, with each contest in those rounds still played at the site of the higher seed.
The Council engaged in discussions about numerous Patriot League and national items, and particularly expressed its enthusiasm with the development and growth of Patriot League Network, which had a 12 percent increase in viewership in 2014-15 with more than 900 events aired.
Rev. Philip L. Boroughs, S.J., President at College of the Holy Cross, will take over as Chair of the Council of Presidents in place of Dr. Neil Kerwin, President at American University. John Bravman, President at Bucknell University, becomes the chair-elect. The Council also approved Dr. Christine Copper of the United States Naval Academy as the new chair of the Policy Committee, replacing Dr. John F. Axelson of Holy Cross.
"The League will continue to flourish under the strong leadership of Fr. Boroughs and President Bravman as the next chair and vice-chair respectively," said Patriot League Executive Director Carolyn Schlie Femovich. "Throughout the League's 25 years, presidential oversight has been central to the League's governance. Given all the challenges facing intercollegiate athletics at the national level, the League has remained true to its founding principle that athletics contribute to the overall educational and personal development of the student-athletes."
The Patriot League Council of Presidents holds two annual meetings, one in December and another in June.