FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

JWU men, women finish
atop respective standings

WINTHROP, Mass. – Johnson & Wales University has captured both the 2014-15 Great Northeast Athletic Conference Men’s and Women’s Commissioner’s Cup Awards, as announced by GNAC commissioner Joe Walsh on Monday morning.

The GNAC Commissioner’s Cup annually recognizes the member institution that achieves the highest level of athletic success throughout each academic year. It is based upon a point system and standings are determined by percentage after factoring in total possible points, which is determined by the number of GNAC programs each member institution sponsors.

The Wildcats women received 30 of a possible 40 points to hit the 75 percent threshold, besting second-place Emmanuel College, which registered 70 percent. Simmons College, which had won the last three GNAC Commissioner’s Cups on the women’s side, took home third place with 62.22 percent. Saint Joseph’s College of Maine (52.50%) and Lasell College (48.57%) rounded out the top-five in the women’s standings.

For the Wildcats men, the 2014-15 honor marks the eighth straight year JWU has earned at least a share of the GNAC Commissioner’s Cup. They received 27 of a possible 40 points for a 67.50 percent mark, while Emmanuel and Lasell College both received 18 of 30 points (60 percent) to finish tied for second place. Fourth-place Norwich University (56.67%) and fifth-place Suffolk University (53.33%) were just off the pace of Emmanuel and Lasell.

For the complete Commissioner's Cup standings, please see below.

Some of the 2014-15 highlights for the JWU women included GNAC Championships in women’s basketball and softball, while the JWU men captured conference crowns in men’s soccer and men’s cross country and advanced to the league title game in both men’s basketball and baseball.

Schools receive five points for winning a GNAC title, four points for advancing to a GNAC title game, three for advancing to a GNAC Tournament semifinal, two for earning a postseason berth and one for sponsoring a sport.

Founded in 1995, the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) is an NCAA Division III association made up of 12 member institutions and over 3,000 student-athletes across the New England region. Each year, the GNAC sponsors and administers 17 championships, while balancing academic integrity, athletic opportunities and community involvement.

Women's Standings
1. Johnson & Wales - 30/40 pts = 75.0%
2. Emmanuel - 21/30 pts = 70.0%
3. Simmons - 28/45 = 62.22%
4. Saint Joseph's Maine - 21/40 pts = 52.5%
5. Lasell - 17/35 pts = 48.57%
6. Norwich - 16/35 pts = 45.71%
7. Suffolk - 13/30 pts = 43.33%
8. Anna Maria - 15/35 pts = 42.86%
T9. Albertus Magnus - 12/30 pts = 40.0%
T9. Rivier - 14/35 pts = 40.0%
11. St. Joseph (Conn.) - 14/40 pts = 35.0%
12. Mount Ida - 12/40 pts = 30.0% 

Men's Standings
1. Johnson & Wales - 27/40 pts = 67.50%
T2. Emmanuel - 18/30 pts = 60.0% 
T2. Lasell - 18/30 pts = 60.0% 
4. Norwich - 17/30 pts = 56.67%
5. Suffolk - 16/30 pts = 53.33%
6. Mount Ida - 12/25 pts = 48.0%
7. Saint Joseph's Maine - 14/30 pts = 46.67%
T8. Albertus Magnus - 12/30 pts = 40.0%
T8. Rivier - 12/30 pts = 40.0%
10. Anna Maria -  6/25 pts = 24.0% 

– #theGNAC –