June 15, 2009

VCU WOMEN’S BASKETBALL EARNS “PACK THE HOUSE” CHALLENGE AWARD

RICHMOND, Va. – Coaches often refer to fan support as an essential ingredient to a successful season.

That was true for the Virginia Commonwealth University women’s basketball program last year as the Rams were chosen as the Colonial Athletic Association’s winner of the NCAA “Pack the House” Challenge, a national season-long effort designed to strengthen attendance.

Among the 32 NCAA Division I conferences awarded, including Independents, VCU was one of 10 first place winners. 

“We are very excited to be awarded the CAA ‘Pack the House’ winner this past season,” said VCU head coach Beth Cunningham, who became the program’s all-time winningest coach.  “The 2008-09 season was another record-breaking year for VCU women's basketball and the growing support we've had from everyone involved has been instrumental in our success.” 

The Rams received the award following a 58-51 home victory against Old Dominion on Feb. 1, the programs first win over the Lady Monarchs since 2002-03, in front of a record-setting crowd of 2,437 fans.

VCU concluded the season with the program’s first undefeated campaign in Siegel Center history with a perfect 16-0 mark.

“It is something everyone associated with our program is very proud of,” Cunningham said of the Rams success at home last year.  “But it certainly would not have been possible without the VCU students, VCU fans, and support from the Richmond community.  The support that grew during the course of the season was a big reason we were able to secure our first at large birth to the NCAA Tournament.”

For the second year in a row, VCU tied a school record with 26 victories, bringing its mark to 52-15 over the last two seasons.  The Rams made their second-straight trip to the postseason and first-ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament, earning a 10-seed in the Oklahoma City Regional.

“What a year it was for the fans to be a part of setting the attendance records here for a women's game, while watching our team become the first in the history of the program to go to the NCAA tournament, go undefeated at home in the Siegel Center, win a record tying 26 games, and watch [Quanitra Hollingsworth], one of the best center's in the country and now a WNBA player, every night,” said Cunningham.

CONFERENCE WINNERS

America East – Hartford
Atlantic Coast – Georgia Tech
Atlantic Sun – East Tennessee State
Atlantic 10 – Fordham
Big East – Notre Dame
Big Sky – Montana State
Big South – UNC Asheville
Big Ten – Illinois
Big 12 – Missouri
Big West – Long Beach State
Colonial – VCU
Conference USA – Marshall
Horizon – Valparaiso
Independents – Cal State Bakersfield
Ivy – Columbia
Metro Atlantic – Niagara
Mid-American Intercol. – Central Michigan
Mid-Eastern – North Carolina A&T
Missouri Valley – Bradley
Mountain West – TCU
Northeast – Mount St. Mary's
Ohio Valley – Tennessee-Martin
Pacific-10 – California
Patriot – Army
Southeastern – Auburn
Southern – Chattanooga
Southland – Sam Houston State
SWAC – Jackson State
Summit – Indiana/Purdue-Indianapolis
Sun Belt – Arkansas-Little Rock
West Coast – Gonzaga
WAC – Louisiana Tech

GRAND PRIZE WINNER

Auburn University 

10 1ST PLACE WINNERS

Bradley
California
Columbia
Fordham
Gonzaga
Louisiana Tech
Notre Dame
Tennessee-Martin
Valparaiso
VCU