ROCK HILL, SC—Winthrop University has been named the 2009-10 NCAA “Pack the House Challenge” winners for the Big South Conference.

This is the second time in three seasons that the Winthrop University Athletic Marketing team has won the competition in the Big South Conference. Winthrop won the challenge in the Big South in 2008.

Colleges and Universities across the national were urged to “Pack the House” for a selected women’s basketball game during January and February. More than 181 institutions participated and the effort attracted more than 511,000 fans. The goal of challenge is to try and set attendance records.

Winthrop packed the house on Feb. 15 as the Lady Eagles hosted Big South Conference champion Liberty. The NCAA donates $500 to a nonprofit organization of each winning institution’s choice. Winthrop donated its money to breast cancer awareness (Susan G. Komen).