ATLANTA, Ga. - The Women's Basketball Coaches Association has announced the Academic Top 25 for the 2020-2021 season. The Academic Top 25 recognizes NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA and two-year college women's basketball teams across the nation that carry the highest combined GPAs inclusive of all student-athletes on their rosters for the entire season. The 2020-21 season is the 26th in which the WBCA has compiled the honor rolls.
The Jewell women's basketball team finished No. 5 in the country and was the highest in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC), trailing only Lubbock Christian, Ursuline, Fort Hays, and Minnesota State Moorhead nationally. The team's 3.748 GPA was not only the highest since joining Division II but also surpassed the previous school record high. All 16 members of the 2020-2021 roster were named to the Academic All-GLVC team, the first 100% honors for any Jewell program with a roster larger than eight.
"Congratulations to each of the teams recognized in the 2020-21 WBCA Academic Top 25," said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. "Their head coaches are to be commended for fostering an environment of excellence for their student-athletes both on the court and, more importantly, in the classroom; particularly with the additional stress this season caused by the uncertainty resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic."
Below are the 2020-21 WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll for Division II. The head coach listed for each institution was its head coach during the 2020-21 season. Several teams that would have qualified for the top 25 in their respective divisions are not eligible to be ranked because they did not compete athletically during the 2020-21 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They are recognized as special mentions.
|
Rank
|
Institution
|
Head Coach
|
GPA
|
|
1
|
Lubbock Christian University
|
Steve Gomez
|
3.783
|
|
2
|
Ursuline College
|
Shannon Sword
|
3.780
|
|
3
|
Fort Hays State University
|
Tony Hobson
|
3.764
|
|
4
|
Minnesota State University Moorhead
|
Karla Nelson
|
3.750
|
|
5
|
William Jewell College
|
Jill Slominski
|
3.748
|
|
T6
|
Mercyhurst University
|
Brooklyn Kohlheim
|
3.721
|
|
T6
|
Tiffin University
|
Miriam Justinger
|
3.721
|
|
T6
|
Southwest Minnesota State University
|
Tom Webb
|
3.721
|
|
9
|
Lindenwood University
|
Katie Falco
|
3.718
|
|
10
|
Trevecca Nazarene University
|
Chad Hibdon
|
3.711
|
|
11
|
University of Montevallo
|
Gary Van Atta
|
3.710
|
|
12
|
Minnesota State University, Mankato
|
Emilee Thiesse
|
3.688
|
|
T13
|
Saginaw Valley State University
|
Jennifer Pruett
|
3.684
|
|
T13
|
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
|
Lynn Plett
|
3.684
|
|
15
|
Davenport University
|
Rick Albro
|
3.681
|
|
16
|
University of Mary
|
Rick Neumann
|
3.673
|
|
17
|
Chadron State College
|
Janet Raymer
|
3.662
|
|
18
|
Western Colorado University
|
Lora Westling
|
3.660
|
|
19
|
Winona State University
|
Scott Ballard
|
3.657
|
|
20
|
University of Nebraska Kearney
|
Carrie Eighmey
|
3.656
|
|
21
|
Truman State University
|
Theo Dean
|
3.650
|
|
22
|
Northwood University
|
Jeff Curtis
|
3.647
|
|
23
|
Kentucky Wesleyan College
|
Caleb & Nicole Nieman
|
3.646
|
|
24
|
Miles College
|
Phillip Wallace
|
3.639
|
|
25
|
University of Findlay
|
James Wiedie
|
3.63
|
Special Mention: Kutztown University, Janet Malouf, 3.852; Seton Hill, Mark Katarski, 3.857; Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (FL), Lisa Wilson, 3.815; Pace University, Carrie Seymour, 3.764; East Stroudsburg University, Stephanie Del Preore, 3.743; Eckerd College, Paul Honsinger, 3.694; Southern New Hampshire University, Karen Pinkos, 3.692; Michigan Technological University, Samantha Hoyt, 3.685; University of the Sciences, Jackie Hartzell, 3.667.
