The NCAA News - News and Features

The NCAA News -- March 1, 1999

Notes

Sports sponsorship: The Mid-America Intercollegiate Conference has announced that effective for the 1999 season it will conduct championship competition for women's soccer and eliminate its men's soccer tournament. The women's championship will involve Central Missouri State University; the University of Missouri, Rolla; Missouri Southern State University; Northwest Missouri State University; Southwest Baptist University; and Truman State University. "We are excited about the growth of this sport as well as other women's programs throughout the conference," said MIAA Commissioner Ralph W. McFillen. "This is continued evidence of our members' commitment to gender equity."

The men's championship was discontinued after the decision of Lincoln University (Missouri) to leave the conference after the 1998-99 academic year. That left only four of the remaining 10 members sponsoring men's soccer.

Milestones: Lee Buchanan, Francis Marion University, 250 wins in women's basketball. Buchanan is in his first year at Francis Marion. He posted a 230-118 mark in 12 seasons at Brescia College in Kentucky ... Dean Ellis, Northern Michigan University, 200 wins in men's basketball. Ellis is in his 13th season at Northern Michigan ... Barbara Stevens, Bentley College, 520 wins in women's basketball. Bentley's 65-56 victory over Merrimack College February 6 made her the winningest coach in the history of Division II women's basketball.

-- Compiled by David Pickle