Mount Olive College will celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day

Published in Sports on February 9, 2006 2:25 PM

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Mount Olive College will celebrate National Girls and Women in Sports Day this Saturday as current and former Trojan female student-athletes will be recognized during festivities throughout the day.

In addition, free admission will be provided for Saturday's women's basketball game against Queens for high school, middle school and elementary school girls who were their team uniform or other team apparel. The game tips off at 2 p.m. at Kornegay Arena.

This year's National Girls and Women in Sports Day is also a celebration of the 25th year of NCAA Women's Championships.

"National Girls and Women in Sports Day is a wonderful occasion for us to reflect on the past achievements of the Mount Olive College women's athletics program, while also honoring our current student-athletes," said Mount Olive Director of Athletics Jeff Eisen. "We are proud of our women's athletics program and are pleased to be able to take this opportunity to celebrate its accomplishments, as well as the positive influence of sports participation."

Trojan head softball coach Jaime Kylis-Higginbotham will serve as emcee for a reception for current and former Mount Olive female student-athletes, as well as coaches of the Trojan women's sports teams and other invited members of the campus and local community.

Guest speakers for the reception include former Trojans Brianna Williams ('02 -- basketball), Kristi Wiggins Eichelberger ('93 -- basketball/softball), Wendy Murphy Crumpler ('92 -- basketball) and Shari Jones Stewart ('78 -- tennis).

During the women's basketball game against Queens, Trojan women's sports alums will be recognized, as well as current student-athletes who have garnered awards in athletics at Mount Olive.

The NCAA currently conducts championships in 14 women's sports at the Divisions I, II and/or III levels. The Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference recognizes champions in eight women's sports: basketball, cross country, golf, lacrosse, soccer, softball, tennis and volleyball.

Mount Olive has won conference championships in women's cross country (individual), soccer, softball and volleyball. The Trojans have competed in NCAA Division II championship play in cross country (individual), tennis and volleyball.

Along with celebrating girls' and women's participation in athletics, National Girls and Women in Sport Day also recognizes the balance between academics and athletics. Mount Olive women's basketball player Tomeka Prichard is one of many Trojan student-athletes who exemplifies that balance between academics and athletics.

A freshman from Havelock, Prichard is averaging more than 12 points per game since becoming a full-time starter. In the classroom, she recorded a 3.42 grade point average during the fall semester.

"I've always been taught that academics comes first and basketball comes second," says Prichard, who has been playing basketball since the age of seven. "As early as ninth grade, I've been working towards earning an athletics scholarship to help pay for college. Basketball is helping to enable me to earn a college education."

By DAVID SHULIMSON

MOC Sports Information