Middle Tennessee women's basketball standout Charity Savage has been named one of 14 Conference USA Spirit of Service Award winners, as announced by the Commissioner Judy MacLeod.
The C-USA Spirit of Service Award recognizes the community service efforts of the league's student-athletes, based upon significant public service, good academic standing and participation in their selected sport.
The award is presented three times annually to one athlete from every C-USA member school regardless of gender and depending upon when their particular sport is played. The winter sports award is given to athletes who participate in men's and women's basketball, men's and women's indoor track and field, rifle and men's and women's swimming.
Not only is Savage dedicated to her team and studies, but also to service. Savage has volunteered with Special Olympics, United Way, We-Haul and National Reading in Schools Day, among others, during her collegiate career.
Savage's academics are nothing short of impressive as well. The Memphis, Tenn., native will graduate in May with a B.S. Degree in bio chemistry. Her minor is health. Savage will begin Graduate School in August where she will pursue a degree in bio technology. She will be part of the university's ROTC program and enter the United States Army as a commissioned officer in 2022.
On the court, Savage turned in a remarkable senior season that saw her rank among the nation's best. She was a second-team all-conference selection and one of the nation's premier rebounders. Savage ranked among the Top 10 in C-USA in eight categories: rebounds per game (1st, 11.3), offensive rebounds per game (1st, 4.4), defensive rebounds per game (2nd, 6.9), field goal percentage (2nd, .565), double-doubles (3rd, 12), steals (6th, 1.8), blocked shots (7th, 1.3) and minutes (9th, 33.3).
Savage was sixth nationally for total rebounds (339), seventh for offensive rebounds and 12th for rebounds per game. She ended her career with 12 double-doubles and 15 double-figure scoring games. She averaged a double-double (10.9 ppg, 11.3 rpg) - one of three players in C-USA to achieve that feat.
2020 C-USA Winter Spirit of Service Award Recipients
Riley Felts, Charlotte Women's Indoor Track & Field
Taylor Grabenhorst, FIU Women's Swimming & Diving
Ma'Asa Gay, Louisiana Tech Women's Indoor Track & Field
Jarrod West, Marshall Men's Basketball
Charity Savage, Middle Tennessee Women's Basketball
Madison Townley, North Texas Women's Basketball
Ashley Scott, Old Dominion Women's Basketball
Michelle Fokam, Rice Women's Indoor Track & Field
Boban Jacdonmi, Southern Miss Men's Basketball
Jennifer Sharpe, UAB Women's Indoor Track & Field
Isaiah Rhyanes, UTEP Men's Basketball
Karrington Donald, UTSA Women's Basketball
Dee Givens, WKU Women's Basketball
