LA MIRADA, CALIF. -- Biola University is striving to become a model NCAA Division II institution as it transitions into the PacWest Conference, and through two sport seasons at the new level the Eagles have done just that.
Powered by a sixth-place finish in women's basketball to go with second-place in volleyball and two top-3 finishes in cross country Biola sits third in the PacWest Conference Commissioner's Cup standings at the conclusion of the winter sports season.
"To enter the PacWest Conference and make such a strong impact in the sports standings our first year is an incredible accomplishment," said Director of Athletics
Dr. Bethany Miller. "The conference is extremely competitive and the current 3rd place ranking in the Commissioner's Cup is amazing."
The Eagles are only behind the powerhouse California Baptist Lancers, who won all five fall championships and competed for both basketball championships and the Azusa Pacific Cougars, who won the women's basketball regular season championship.
Biola's basketball teams combined to win 16 conference contests in their first year playing against the stiff PacWest competition. Every single one of those wins were crucial to the Eagles' ability to stay in third place in these standings. They are tied with Dixie State for third overall and hold a narrow advantage over Point Loma which sits fifth.
"I am proud of our programs and the achievement in this inaugural year and look forward to strong finishes from our springs sports," said Miller. "We love being a PacWest Conference institution and a provisional member of NCAA Division II."
Biola is looking very strong in baseball and softball in the spring and should be able to ensure a top-5 finish in the Commissioner's Cup if those programs hold steady and the Eagles can find a way to strong showings in track & field and golf.
BU has an average finish of 9.7143 points through the first seven countable sports. There are eight more spring sports with points up for grabs. Biola is the only PacWest institution to sponsor all 14 countable sports.
About the PacWest Commissioner's Cup
The PacWest Commissioner's Cup standings are updated three times a year following the fall, winter and spring seasons. The competition is based upon average finish instead of point totals, a change that occurred prior to the 2009-10 season. Each school's points are totaled and then divided by the number of PacWest athletic programs it offers, giving an overall average finish for the school.
The PacWest Commissioner's Cup Scoring System awards points to schools based on their finishes in conference-sponsored sports. Point totals vary from sport to sport and are based upon the number of schools competing. Regular-season standings are used for baseball, basketball, soccer, softball and volleyball, while the results of the conference championships in the sports of cross country, golf and tennis.
When teams are tied in the standings, the points awarded to those positions are added together then distributed evenly among the schools.
