BRIDGEWATER, N.J. – North Carolina Central was named the winner of the Northeast Conference (NEC) Spring Team Sportsmanship Award for women's golf on Wednesday.

The sportsmanship honor is the first for the NCCU golf program since it started competing in the NEC as an associate member in the 2022-23 season.

"I'm incredibly proud of our team for earning the NEC Team Sportsmanship Award," NCCU Head Coach Kendall Wallace said. "It's a reflection of the character they carry both on and off the course. This speaks volumes about the type of individuals they are and how much pride they take in representing North Carolina Central."

The Eagles displayed sportsmanship while achieving athletic success in the 2024-25 season. The highlight of the season was winning the Thomas W. Dortch Jr. HBCU Golf Classic in the fall. Their fourth-place finish in the NEC Championship in April was NCCU's highest in the conference tournament. Trinity Ahing became the first NCCU player to be selected to the NEC All-Conference team, earning first-team honors.

Instituted by league presidents in 2008, the awards are designed to acknowledge the team in each conference sport that, in the opinion of its peers, most closely demonstrates good sportsmanship based on the NEC Principles of Sportsmanship and Standards of Conduct. Voting is conducted at the conclusion of each season by each team and head coach, who rank teams within the conference based on a set of criteria.

"Our sportsmanship awards program serves as a meaningful reminder that how we compete is just as important as the results on the scoreboard," said NEC Commissioner Noreen Morris. "Each of these teams earned the respect of their peers by consistently demonstrating what it means to compete with character and integrity. We are proud to honor those who embody the spirit of fair play."

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