July 9, 2009

Garden City, N.Y. - The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced its winners for the 2008-09 Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll. This award, given in NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA and Junior College/Community College, awards teams throughout the nation that carry the highest grade point averages (GPA) for the entire season based on the nomination submitted by WBCA-member head coaches. Adelphi University ranked 21st in Division II with a 3.403 cumulative grade point average.

"It is always an honor for the WBCA to recognize these teams for putting together outstanding cumulative grade point averages," WBCA CEO Beth Bass said. "We want to congratulate each and every one of these teams for their efforts in the classroom and want them to know that we celebrate their hard work. My thanks go out to these teams for setting a benchmark of success academically among their peers in the sport."

This marks the third time that Adelphi has received this honor, and the second under Head Coach Kelley Watts. The Panthers also ranked 21st for the 2006-07 season with a 3.332 GPA. The team's highest ranking came in 1999-00 at 14th with a 3.555 GPA. "I am very excited for the team we got one of our goals this year," coach Watts stated. "It's the second time in three years we have made the list."

Four of the five institutions at the top spot for their division have received distinction on the WBCA Academic Top 25 Honor Roll before. Indiana State claimed the top spot in NCAA Division I for the third time and is making its eighth consecutive appearance in the top 25. In Division II, St. Thomas Aquinas is making its first-ever top 25, while Maryville University of St. Louis (Division III) has appeared four times prior. Dana College is claiming its third No. 1 ranking, while Phoenix College earns its first top position.

GPAs are calculated by dividing the total number of quality points earned by each student-athlete on an institution's roster in the given academic terms by the total number of hours earned by the team. The GPAs are rounded to the nearest thousandth of a point. Per a motion passed by the WBCA Board of Directors in 2007, teams making the list of Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll must obtain at least a 3.000 overall GPA.

The WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll for NCAA Division II is as follows:

School 2008-09 Head Coach Team GPA
1 St. Thomas Aquinas College Kim Lusk 3.694
2 Saint Martin's University Timothy Healy 3.668
3 Ashland University Sue Ramsey 3.647
4 Michigan Technological University John Barnes 3.635
5 Abilene Christian University Shawna Lavender 3.580
6 Seton Hill University Ferne Labati 3.567
7 West Liberty State College Lynn Ullom 3.559
8 Rockhurst University Rebecca Morrisey 3.545
t9 Winona State University Scott Ballard 3.520
t9 University of Nebraska-Kearney Carol Russell 3.520
11 College of Saint Rose Karen Haag 3.499
12 Gannon University Cleve Wright 3.497
13 University of Findlay Kate Cummings 3.495
14 Wayne State College Chris Kielsmeier 3.473
15 Montana State University-Billings Kevin Woodin 3.472
16 Northwood University Jeff Curtis 3.471
17 Truman State University Michael Smith 3.461
18 Southwest Minnesota State University Mike Jewett 3.460
19 University of Minnesota-Duluth Annette Wiles 3.447
20 Regis University Linda Raunig 3.412
21 Adelphi University Kelley Watts 3.403
22 Colorado Christian University Tim Hays 3.394
23 Fort Lewis College Mark Kellogg 3.380
24 West Texas A&M University Krista Gerlich 3.371
25 Mars Hill College Jennifer Nance 3.366

About the WBCA
Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game in all of its aspects as a sport for women and girls. For more information about the WBCA, please visit wbca.org.