Skip To Main Content
Skip To Main Content

Lander University

HOME OF THE LANDER UNIVERSITY BEARCATS #CLAWSUP
Directors Cup Header

General Turner Kirby - Director of Athletic Communications

Lander Earns Highest Directors’ Cup Finish Since 1999

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Following a memorable year highlighted by multiple deep NCAA Tournament runs, the Lander Athletics Department recorded its highest finish in the Learfield Directors' Cup standings since 1998-99, placing 43rd in the final NCAA Division II rankings released by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA).

Lander finished with 405.5 points, the highest total in school history. The Bearcats posted the second-highest point total among Peach Belt Conference institutions and the sixth-highest total among Southeast Region programs. Lander and Flagler were the only Peach Belt Conference schools to finish among the top 50 nationally.

Grand Valley State captured the Directors' Cup title for the 18th time and sixth consecutive year.

The Directors' Cup standings are based on results from 15 sports, including required scores from women's volleyball, women's basketball, men's basketball and baseball. The remaining 11 scores are drawn from each institution's highest-finishing sports, regardless of gender.

Lander accumulated 89 points during the fall season behind women's soccer's run to the NCAA Southeast Regional Championship match and volleyball's fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance.

The winter season produced the department's highest point total of the year, as wrestling placed fifth at the NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships and men's basketball advanced to the NCAA Division II National Championship game—the two programs combined to earn 165 points.

The Bearcats added 151 points during the spring season, fueled by NCAA Tournament appearances from baseball, softball, women's golf and men's tennis. Women's golf generated the highest point total of the spring after finishing sixth at the NCAA South Regional, ending its season just three strokes shy of the program's first NCAA Championship berth.

The 43rd-place finish caps a historic year for Lander Athletics, which saw eight teams qualify for NCAA postseason competition, four conference championships, two regional championships and a national runner-up finish by the men's basketball team. The Bearcats' 405.5 points are the most in school history.
Print Friendly Version