June 16, 2009

Indianapolis, Ind.--The Patriot League was one of 18 institutions or conferences which was selected by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to receive a women's basketball grant as part of the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Grant Program, which is in its second year. The 2009-10 NCAA grant program dedicated approximately $750,000 nationally to increase awareness, exposure and increase attendance of women's basketball.

The Patriot League is planning to use the grant for many exciting activities and initiatives. The League will work with each of its eight member schools to implement a plan that will best suit each campus.

A total of 75 member schools and conferences submitted proposals in the second year of the pilot program. National office staff and representatives from the NCAA women's basketball marketing consultant firm, Hawkeye Sports and Entertainment, evaluated the proposals.

"We are pleased with the success of many of last year's grant recipients and are excited to see what these new recipients are able to achieve with this assistance," said NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Vice President Sue Donohoe. "When resources are allocated and efforts are focused to promote women's basketball, it can provide a meaningful return on the investment."

Joining the Patriot League as 2009-10 grant recipients are Auburn University; Big South Conference; Cornell University; East Tennessee State University; Eastern Michigan University; Iowa State University; San Diego State University, University of California, Los Angeles; University of California, Riverside; University of California, Santa Barbara; University of Hartford; University of Kansas; University of Miami (Florida); University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; University of South Carolina, Columbia; West Coast Conference and Western Athletic Conference.

"The first year of the grant program went very well and we are anticipating more success in year two," said Donohoe. "The membership has had a tremendous interest in securing grant resources to advance women's basketball. It is important that we continue to work to grow women's basketball from the inside out and at the grass roots level."

2008-09 grant recipient success stories included Texas Tech University which doubled its student attendance for women's basketball home games; Florida State University increased season ticket sales by 63 percent, with a 55% increase in overall attendance for women's basketball; East Tennessee State University increased its average attendance by 231%. Several grant recipients, including the Patriot League, set record single game attendance marks.

The program will be evaluated following its second year to determine if the objectives are being met. Grants are awarded on a one-year basis and are not automatically renewed. The Patriot League received the grant for the second straight year. East Tennessee State University and San Diego State University were the only others to receive a second consecutive grant.

This marketing initiative concept was generated from the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Discussion Group, chaired by NCAA President Myles Brand. The group consisted of head coaches, media representatives, former student-athletes and conference, institutional and Women's Basketball Coaches Association administrators. This initiative has been strongly supported by the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Committee, and the NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Issues Committee.