Shaw's National Champions Welcomed At Governor's Mansion
RALEIGH, N.C. - The national champion Shaw University women's basketball team was welcomed to the North Carolina Governor's Mansion by Governor Bev Perdue on Wednesday afternoon. By signed proclamation, the Governor declared April 18 as "Shaw Lady Bears Basketball Day" in the state.
"This is a great day in the state of North Carolina. We have more than nine million people in this great state and you represented every single citizen," said Gov. Perdue. "We are very proud of you and what you have achieved both on and off the court."
Dr. Dororthy Cowser Yancy, president of Shaw University, then addressed the team. "I'm proud of the fact that our ladies did this with class. They represented our university, our school and our state. And it's fitting that they won the national championship on the 100th anniversary of the CIAA Tournament and the 30th anniversary of the women's championship."
Members of the Lady Bears were individually presented with the Laurel Wreath award, which honors outstanding athletic achievement. Gov. Perdue stated, "You are now goodwill ambassadors of athletics in the State of North Carolina."
The visit concludes a week of honors for the Lady Bears as they were recognized by the Wake County Commissioners on Monday and the Raleigh City Council Tuesday.
Shaw won the Division II national women's basketball championship on March 17 when they defeated #2 Ashland 88-82 in overtime. The then-unranked Lady Bears defeated four top ten teams on their way to the title and were voted number one in the final USA Today/ESPN Division II Women's Basketball Poll.
