WESTFIELD, Mass. – With the completion of the winter sports, Bridgewater State University holds onto the lead in the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference Howard C. Smith Cup standings. 

The Smith Cup is named in honor of former Massachusetts State College Trustee Howard C. Smith, who in 1970, urged the athletic directors of the eight State institutions to hold a series of meetings to discuss the possibility of forming an intercollegiate conference. In June of 1971, Smith’s dream became a reality as an affirmative agreement was reached and the MASCAC was created.

Bridgewater State earned 75.17 percent (75.17 points) out of a possible 100 during the winter season to edge out Westfield State University, who was in second place with 70.69 percent (79.17 points) of a potential 112 points. Framingham State University was third with 70.09 percent (78.5 points) out of 112 points while Salem State University was fourth with 52.50 percent (57.67 points) out of a potential 100 points to date.

Worcester State University lands in fifth with 51.49 percent with Fitchburg State University following in sixth with 40 percent of the 100 points possible. The Massachusetts Maritime Academy is in seventh place with 25.00 percent of the respective points, while MCLA finished the winter season with 23.68 percent of potential points.

Bridgewater State took home a share of the MASCAC regular season title for women's basketball along with Westfield State and Framingham State. Salem State earned the most points in men's basketball as the regular season title winners. Westfield State claimed the men's ice hockey crown to help move them from third in points to second. The final regular season standings in each sport are used to calculate the Smith Cup points. For men's hockey, the final points are determined by record without taking into account contests against affiliate members. 

The Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, the nation’s first Division III men’s and women’s playing conference, has a rich and storied tradition of competitive success while celebrating excellence in the classroom. MASCAC core member schools include Bridgewater State University, Fitchburg State University, Framingham State University, MCLA, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Salem State University, Westfield State University and Worcester State University. Two other institutions, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and Plymouth State University, are affiliate members of the conference in the sports of football and men’s ice hockey, while Western Connecticut State University joined the conference as an affiliate member in football beginning in 2013-14.

The 2013-14 Howard C. Smith Cup standings through the winter sports seasons are as follows: