NORFOLK, Va., —The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) has named Lyndsey Edwards from Bethune-Cookman University as the 2018 Woman of the Year, the conference office announced Monday.
The award, selected annually by the MEAC Senior Woman Administrators, celebrates the achievements of senior female student-athletes who have excelled in academics, athletics, service and leadership.
“I would like to congratulate Lyndsey Edwards for having a spectacular career, not only in women’s basketball but in her academic pursuits as well,” said MEAC Commissioner Dr. Dennis Thomas. “In addition, her service to the community is truly exceptional. I would like to thank the Bethune-Cookman University athletic staff, coaches, academic support personnel and Lyndsey’s family, who had an influential part in Lyndsey’s success. I wish her continued success in her future endeavors.”
Edwards, a native of Indianapolis, Ind., was part of three MEAC regular-season championship squads with the Wildcats – sharing the title in 2015-16 and 2017-18, and winning outright in 2016-17 – and her teams made three straight postseason WNIT appearances.
This past season, she was one of two seniors on a B-CU squad that set a program record for wins in a season (24) and notched its second straight 20-win campaign.
In addition to helping the Wildcats establish themselves as one of the MEAC’s top women’s basketball programs, Edwards excelled in the classroom. She had a 3.83 GPA at Bethune-Cookman, where she majored in accounting, and she was named to the MEAC Commissioner’s All-Academic Team three times (2016-18).
She was a member of the National Association of Black Accountants and served as president of B-CU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). In addition, she had a hand in starting a Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) huddle – the first of its kind in Bethune-Cookman’s history.
Given B-CU’s status as a faith-based institution, and the busy nature of student-athletes’ schedules, Edwards realized there was potential to not only bring student-athletes together, but to bring them closer to Christ.
B-CU’s first-ever FCA huddle took place on April 23. For her efforts, Edwards was named FCA Servant Athlete of the Year.
Edwards will represent the MEAC as its nominee for the NCAA Woman of the Year award. The NCAA established this award in 1991 to celebrate the achievements of women in intercollegiate athletics. Now in its 27th year, the award is unique because it recognizes not only the athletic achievements of outstanding young women, but also their academic achievements, community service and leadership.
The NCAA Woman of the Year winner will be announced on Sunday, Oct. 28 at the awards dinner in Indianapolis, Ind.
Morgan State tennis student-athlete Danielle Thompson was the 2018 MEAC Woman of the Year runner-up. Thompson, who was also nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year, graduated last month with a 3.01 GPA, earning a Bachelor’s degree in hospitality management.
MEAC Woman of the Year Honorees
2006 Renecia Lovelace, North Carolina A&T State (Softball)
2007 Courtney Smiley, Howard (Basketball)
2008 Jessica Worsley, Maryland Eastern Shore (Bowling)
2009 Loreal Smith, North Carolina A&T State (Track and Field)
2010 Kalyn Washburn, Delaware State (Bowling)
2011 Kristina Frahm, Maryland Eastern Shore (Bowling)
2012 Jazmyne Hefflefinger, Delaware State (Bowling)
2013 T’nia Falbo, Maryland Eastern Shore (Bowling)
2014 Christina Epps, Coppin State (Track and Field)
2015 Mariana Alvarado Nava, Maryland Eastern Shore (Bowling)
2016 Jenny Tracy, North Carolina Central (Softball)
2017 Thashaina Seraus, Maryland Eastern Shore (Bowling)
2018 Lyndsey Edwards, Bethune-Cookman (Basketball)
Courtesy: MEAC
