BYU leads 2016-17 Commissioner’s Cup standings at conclusion of winter seasons

SAN BRUNO, Calif. – At the conclusion of the 2016-17 West Coast Conference winter sports seasons, defending champion Brigham Young University once again leads the race for the 2016-17 West Coast Conference Commissioner's Cup - awarded annually to the WCC institution garnering the most success during Conference play. 

With a second place finish in women’s basketball combined with a third place regular season finish in men’s basketball was enough to vault the Cougars back to the top spot. Following the conclusion of the fall seasons, BYU trailed the University of Portland 41.0 points to 38.5 points. With its winter success, the Cougars now own an eight-point lead against second-place Gonzaga University, 55.0 – 47.0.

BYU collected fall championships in men’s cross country, women’s soccer and volleyball, while Gonzaga swept regular season titles in men’s and women’s basketball to cap the winter. 

Just five points separate the top-six programs in the men’s all-sport trophy race. Saint Mary’s College owns a narrow lead with 22.5 points, boosted by a runner-up basketball showing while regular season champion Gonzaga and University of San Francisco are tied for third with 20.0 points.

BYU owns a sizeable lead in the women's all-sports trophy race with a nearly perfect score of 37.0 points (out of 42 possible), after seizing two fall championships with a runner up showing in women’s cross country and a share of second place on the hardwood. Gonzaga is a distant second with 26.0 points after capturing the regular season basketball hardware. 

Overall, the Cougars compiled 55.0 Commissioner's Cup points after the conclusion of the winter season, which includes men?s and women?s basketball. Gonzaga (47.0) is second, Loyola Marymount and Portland are tied for third with 43.0 points apiece. Saint Mary’s (40.5) is fifth, one point in front of Bay Area rival San Francisco (39.5). University of San Diego (35.5), Santa Clara University (33.5), Pepperdine University (22.5) and the University of the Pacific (21.5) round out the standings. 

The next update in the race for the Commissioner's Cup will come after the conclusion of the men?s and women?s tennis championships (April 27-29). The next update will also include men’s and women’s golf (April 20-22) and beach volleyball (April 21-22).

BYU captured its fourth Commissioner’s Cup victory last season and swept both the men’s and women’s all-sport trophies. The Cougars ranked No. 5 in the 2016-17 Learfield Sports Director’s Cup Division I Final Fall Standings, updated Jan. 12, 2017. Portland checked in at No. 40.