ATLANTA (July 20, 2022) – The William Jewell women's basketball team has been named to the 2021-22 WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll as announced by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. The Cardinals finished tied for seventh with Montana State-Billings with a 3.770 team GPA, to place in the top-10 for the second consecutive season. 

The WBCA 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 2021-22 season is the 27th in which the WBCA has compiled the honor rolls.

Jewell led the all Great Lakes Valley Conference teams in GPA this year with Lindenwood and Rockhurst also finishing in the top-25. 

This year's release also marks the first year in which all teams which qualified for the top 25 rankings with the minimum 3.0 GPA also are recognized for their academic accomplishment.

"The WBCA family of coaches is committed to the student-athlete experience and celebrates these teams that have demonstrated excellence in the classroom," said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew.  "This year's WBCA Academic Top 25 is a powerful list of teams and their head coaches who have winning cultures that prepare their student-athletes for success in life.

"We are also pleased this year to recognize all teams that achieved the minimum 3.0 combined GPA required for nomination. That alone is no small feat considering the rigors of playing college athletics."

Below are the 2021-22 WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Rolls by division. The head coach listed for each institution was its head coach during the 2021-22 season. Teams having a 3.0 combined GPA and qualifying for consideration in their respective divisions are also listed as special mentions.

NCAA Division II

Special Mention: Truman State University, Theo Dean, 3.637; Chestnut Hill College, Jim Connolly, 3.625; Southern New Hampshire University, Karen Pinkos, 3.620; Emory & Henry College, Jaclyn Dickens, 3.611; University of Colorado Colorado Springs, Lynn Plett, 3.604; Southwest Minnesota State University, Tom Webb, 3.600; McKendree University, Kari Kerkhoff, 3.598; Augustana University, Dave Krauth, 3.591; University of Wisconsin-Parkside, Jen Conely, 3.576; University of Mary, Rick Neumann, 3.570; Southwest Baptist University, Kelsey Keizer, 3.561; University of Alaska Fairbanks, Jessie Craig, 3.557; St. Thomas Aquinas College, Bill Cleary, 3.552; Minnesota State University, Emilee Thiesse, 3.552; Western Washington University, Carmen Dolfo, 3.545; Hillsdale College, Charlie Averkamp, 3.538; Chadron State College, Janet Raymer, 3.536; Davenport University, Travis Schuba, 3.507; Bemidji State University, Chelsea DeVille, 3.507; Gannon University, Cleve Wright, 3.498; Seattle Pacific University, Mike Simonson, 3.488; Winona State University, Scott Ballard, 3.477; Wingate University, Ann Hancock, 3.466; Metropolitan State University of Denver, Tanya Haave, 3.466; Miles College, Phillip Wallace, 3.460; Holy Family University, Bernadette Laukaitis, 3.447; University of Illinois Springfield, Casey Thousand, 3.440; Valdosta State University, Deandra Schirmer, 3.383; South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, Jeri Jacobson, 3.380; Daemen College, Jenepher Banker, 3.375; Goldey-Beacom College, Bethann Burke, 3.362; Tusculum University, Meagan Price, 3.338; Stonehill College, Trisha Brown, 3.328; Union University, Mark Campbell, 3.327; California State University, East Bay, Shanelle Stires, 3.325; Fort Valley State University, Andrea Williams, 3.322; Azusa Pacific University, T.J. Hardeman, 3.313; Chaminade University of Honolulu, Arthur King, 3.303; Barry University, Kristina Baugh, 3.289; University of West Florida, Stephanie Lawrence Yelton, 3.276; Oklahoma Christian University, Stephanie Findley, 3.255; California State University San Marcos, Renee Jimenez, 3.251; Bentley University, C White, 3.242; Dominican University of California, Tim LaKose, 3.231; West Texas A&M University, Josh Prock, 3.229; Christian Brothers University, Jessie Carmack, 3.224; University of Hawaii at Hilo, David Kaneshiro, 3.220; California State University, San Bernardino, Casandra Renno, 3.209; Coker University, Melissa DeVore, 3.201; Northwest Nazarene University, Steve Steele, 3.176; Converse University, Samantha Davidson, 3.109; St. Mary's University (Texas), Jason Martens, 3.081; California State University, Los Angeles, Torino Johnson, 3.069; Academy of Art University, Krystle Evans, 3.049.