NEWARK, DE -- The recently completed Second Annual Mary Ann Hitchens Classic, held Sept. 17 at Deerfield Golf and Tennis Club, was a big success according to University of Delaware officials.

The event, which benefits the Mary Ann Hitchens Endowment for Women's Athletics Fund in supporting the operating needs of women's basketball, cross country, track and field, lacrosse, field hockey, lacrosse, rowing, soccer, softball, swimming, tennis and volleyball programs at UD, raised approximately $12,000 according to UD Associate Director of Athletics and Senior Women’s Administrator Sue Groff.

The event, the only one in UD history that is held solely for the benefit of Blue Hen women’s athletics, was sold out with 120 guests taking part in golf and tennis tournaments. A reception was held after the tournaments and included a silent auction in which each UD women's athletic team created a basket, tailored to their sport, to be auctioned off.

“The event was a major success,” said Groff. “The support from the UD community and the outside community was amazing. We’d like to thank all those who supported the event, including our own head coaches who coordinated the event and the volunteers and staff members who helped everything run smoothly.”

Hitchens, who retired in 2006 after 37 years of service to intercollegiate athletic at UD, was a pioneer in the growth of the University of Delaware's women's athletics program. She enjoyed great success as a coach and continued to gain notice as a nationally-respected administrator. A native of Milford, DE, Hitchens posted a record of 71-35 with six post-season appearances in basketball and recorded a 16-year mark of 196-76-30 in field hockey that included six national playoff appearances, including a second place AIAW national finish in 1978.

During her tenure, she coached nine All-Americans and was East Coast Conference Coach of the Year four times. A 1967 and 1969 graduate of Delaware, Hitchens served two terms as president of the America East Conference from 1992-94 and was the first woman to hold that post. She was inducted into the Delaware Sports Hall of Fame in 1997 and the University of Delaware Athletics Hall of Fame in 1999.

Dr. Michael Axe of First State Orthopaedics served as the presenting sponsor of the event. Other leading sponsors included the UD Bookstore, Thom Shumosic, Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney, Whiting-Turner Construction, National 5 and 10, Bancroft Construction, and RC Fabricators. Various other local sponsors also provided support for the event.