Wingate Takes Over Lead in Echols Athletic Excellence Award Standings

ROCK HILL, S.C. - After finishing atop the SAC women's basketball regular-season standings and third in men's basketball, Wingate has moved into the top spot of the 2011-12 Echols Athletic Excellence Award standings.

The award is a cumulative measure of performance in each of the league's sponsored sports.

Wingate won the SAC women's basketball regular season title after going 13-5 in league play. The Bulldogs also had a strong year in men's basketball, finishing 13-5 in the conference to finish behind only Anderson and Lincoln Memorial.

WU and Lenoir-Rhyne were tied atop the standings after the fall sport season. L-R remains in the No. 2 spot following the winter season after finishing tied for third in the women's basketball standings and tied for fifth in men's basketball.

SAC men's basketball regular season champion Anderson is third in the updated standings, followed by No. 4 Mars Hill, No. 5 Lincoln Memorial and No. 6 Tusculum.

After finishing in the top half of both the men's and women's basketball standings, Newberry jumped a spot to No. 7 in the Echols Award race, with Catawba at No. 8, Carson-Newman at No. 9 and Brevard at No. 10.

The award is named after former SAC Commissioner Doug Echols. The winning school will be determined following the conclusion of the conference's spring sports season.

Echols Athletic Excellence Award Standings - Winter Update