CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In continued celebration and acknowledgment of the 50th Anniversary of Title IX, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA), the nation's oldest historically Black athletic conference, has unveiled six more CIAA Title IX Trailblazers. The conference will name a total of 50 Title IX Trailblazers, who will be recognized during the 2023 CIAA Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament, which will be held from February 21-25 at the CFG Bank Arena in Baltimore, MD.

Taiqua Stewart, Peggy Davis, Lauretta Taylor, Dr. Peggy Green, Sandra T. Shuler, and Arlene Creek headline the next set of CIAA Title IX Trailblazers as these five women have contributed profoundly to the advancement and growth of women's athletics at their respective universities and within the conference.

Along with serving as the Deputy Director of Athletics, Creek also serves as the Senior Woman Administrator at Bowie State. Creek, known affectionately as "Sheriff" has been a Bulldog for over 40 years as a student-athlete, coach, and administrator, which includes stints as Facilities Coordinator and Interim Athletic Director. As a coach, Creek won consecutive conference championships in women's basketball, including Bowie State's first women's basketball title in 1978. She was inducted into Bowie State's Hall of Fame in 2014. 

While a student at Bowie State, Creek played basketball, softball, volleyball, and field hockey, and she served as the Student Government Association Vice President before receiving her degree in Health, Physical Education & Recreation in 1970.

On February 25, the CIAA will be crowning the 2023 champion in men's and women's basketball and so every week leading into the CIAA Basketball Tournament, the conference will be recognizing a set of trailblazers.

Additionally, as part of the continued efforts to champion and highlight the 50th Anniversary of Title IX, the CIAA has introduced a dedicated Title IX Page on its website, featuring archives of the CIAA Woman of the Years, various other relevant news releases, and video podcast episodes highlighting some amazing women inside and outside the conference. 

Title IX imagery will be featured heavily during the CIAA Tournament. Last month, the CIAA inducted an all-women's Hall of Fame class for 2023 in honor of Title IX. Tickets are currently on sale for the CIAA Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony, which is scheduled for Friday, February 24 at 9 a.m.

For the most up-to-date information on Bowie State Athletics and its 13 varsity sport teams, please visit www.bsubulldogs.com.