BRIDGEWATER, N.J. (April 28, 2026) – The NEC revealed its women's golf postseason honors and major awards where Howard University saw six Bison recognized for their historic season. The announcement came Tuesday afternoon.
 
Bison head coach Sam Puryear, senior Marley Franklin (Los Angeles) and freshman Mia Melendez (Ann Arbor, Mich.) headlined the day, sweeping all three major awards.
 
Puryear was named NEC Coach of the Year after leading the Bison to their first conference title in program history and first ever appearance to the NCAA Tournament. Collectively, the Bison averaged 297.8 strokes per round with three tourney victories, including the 2026 NEC Championship.
 
Franklin won NEC Golfer of the Year, becoming the second Bison in school history to claim the honor, joining teammate Paris Fieldings (Chesapeake, Va.). In her final season, the 2023 NEC Rookie of the Year averaged 74.1 strokes per round and won the conference's individual title last week (April 19).
 
Melendez grabbed the NEC Rookie of the Year award, becoming the third Bison in program history to win the accolade (Franklin & Emily Mayne). The Michigan native averaged 77.3 strokes per round with three top 10 finishes, including third place at the conference championships.
 
FDU was the last program to sweep all three major awards (2021).
 
Franklin, Fieldings, Melendez, senior Morgan Horrell (Dallas) and sophomore Lena Durette (Scottsdale, Ariz.) made conference history, becoming the first five teammates to earn All-NEC First Team honors in the same season.
 
Howard earns the NEC's automatic bid to the NCAA Regionals and will learn its destination when selections are announced Wednesday (April 29). NCAA Division I Women's Golf Regionals are scheduled for May 9-11.
 
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com and/or the NEC website at www.northeastconference.org.