HAMPTON, Va. – The Hampton University Department of Athletics will discontinue the women’s bowling program, Director of Athletics Eugene Marshall has announced.

The move will be effective following the conclusion of this season.

"I want to thank the young ladies, past and present, Coach Davis, all past coaches, and Mrs. Winston for all of their hard work and everything they have done to be great student-athletes. They have been fine representatives of this University and athletic department,” said Marshall.

With the move, funds from the bowling team will be reallocated to the women’s soccer and men’s lacrosse programs. Both programs are in their inaugural seasons; in fact, women’s soccer completed its first season of Div. I competition in November, which was a hybrid schedule, and men’s lacrosse will play a hybrid schedule as well starting this coming January.

Women’s soccer will play a full schedule in the fall of 2016, with men’s lacrosse following suit in the spring of 2017.

Both programs currently compete at Div. I independents.

The bowling program originated in 1999.