WESTFIELD, Mass. -- As the winter regular season has concluded, Westfield State retains their advantage in the 2023-24 Howard C. Smith Cup standings. The Smith Cup is awarded annually to the member institution which compiles the most points based on the placement of each of its programs competing in the league championship sports. 

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.

Keeping their grip on first place, the Owls have 92 points (82.14 percent) out of 112 possible. During the winter season, Westfield State finished second in men’s ice hockey, tied for second in men’s basketball and third in women’s basketball to add to their advantage from the fall.

Right behind in second place is Bridgewater State with 75 points (75 percent) out of 100 available. The Bears were second in women’s basketball and tied for second in men’s basketball.

Worcester State comes up next in third with 64 points (57.14 percent) out of 112 available points. The Lancers were atop the standings in men’s basketball while finishing  fourth in men’s ice hockey and fifth in women’s basketball.

Framingham State sits in fourth with 63.50 points (56.70 percent) out of 112 available. The Rams came in first in women’s basketball, third in men’s ice hockey and tied for sixth in men’s basketball. 

Coming in fifth with 35 points (41.67 percent) out of 84 possible is Salem State. The Vikings landed in fourth in women’s basketball and fifth in both men’s basketball and men’s ice hockey.  

Sitting in sixth is Fitchburg State is with 45 points (40.18 percent) out of 112 available points. The Falcons closed out the regular season first in men’s ice hockey, sixth in women’s basketball and tied for sixth in men’s basketball. 

Rounding out the winter Howard C. Smith Cup standings are MCLA and Massachusetts Maritime in seventh and eighth, respectively. For the Trailblazers, they collected 26.50 points (30.11 percent) out of 88 available. They ended the winter fourth in men’s basketball and sixth in men’s ice hockey and seventh in women’s basketball. After the fall, the Buccaneers had 18 points (28.13 percent) out of 64 possible. The Buccaneers currently do not compete in winter sports. 

The final Smith Cup standings will be announced following the completion of the spring sports season in May. 

 

	2023-2024	Poss. Pts.	Pts. Won	Percentage
1	Westfield	112	92.0000	0.8214
2	Bridgewater	100	75.0000	0.7500
3	Worcester	112	64.0000	0.5714
4	Framingham	112	63.5000	0.5670
5	Salem	84	35.0000	0.4167
6	Fitchburg	112	45.0000	0.4018
7	MCLA	88	26.5000	0.3011
8	Mass Maritime	64	18.0000	0.2813