Big South Conference commissioner Kyle Kallander announced on Monday that the Big South Conference Council of Chief Executive Officers has voted to award the Big South Conference Women's Basketball Tournament to High Point University for the next two seasons.
“High Point University has done an outstanding job hosting the Women's Basketball Championship the past two years,” said Kallander. “From the social events to the game management, the entire tournament has been a great experience for our student-athletes. We are looking forward to returning in 2011 and 2012.”
HPU has hosted the women's basketball championship for each of the two seasons and will become the first school to ever host the entire championship for four consecutive seasons. Radford University currently holds the longest consecutive streak after hosting for three-straight seasons from 1991-93.
“It is a great honor to have the tournament back here again,” added High Point Athletics Director Craig Keilitz. “We are pleased that the Conference has shown faith that we will do a great job with the event as we have the last two years. It is important for our team and all the student-athletes that we put on a first class tournament and we are proud to do so once again.”
“I believe that this is a compliment to the athletic staff, the community and the school for the presentation that we have put on for the last two season's while hosting the tournament,” head coach Tooey Loy said. “I think when it came down to the committee's decision they felt that High Point University gave the best overall experience to the student-athletes. We are excited about hosting the tournament for the next two seasons.”
The Big South Conference Women's Basketball Championship has been awarded on a two-year basis the past four years via a bid process. UNC Asheville was first selected to host in 2007 and 2008, followed by High Point for 2009 and 2010. HPU also hosted individual Women's Tournament games each season during the home-site format from 2003-06.