SEWANEE, Tenn. 7/20/10 – The Sewanee women’s basketball team has been recognized by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association for the second consecutive year for its outstanding work in the classroom.
The Tigers posted a 3.537 average GPA for the 2009-10 school year which was good enough to rank the team sixth in the annual WBCA Academic Top 25 for Division III schools. There are 424 Division III women’s basketball teams. Sewanee was ranked 17th in 2008-09.
The team was also recently honored by the NCAA for capturing a national statistical title by leading all of Division III in three-point field goals made per game during the 2009-10 season.
Members of the team include Jamie Robinson, Kelly Morrison, Lauren Gulley, Dani Kabbes, Logan Miller, Alex Ginsburg, Virginia Zakas, Claire Elliott, Christina Johnson, Dee Bradford, Juliene Joyner and Emily Rhodes.
“I am so proud of this special group of young ladies for their hard work. Individually, they have proven that one can balance the academic rigors here at Sewanee and still invest the time and energy required to play college basketball. Each player is very conscientious about her school work and it has paid off with this recognition by the WBCA. They are great representatives of this university and true student-athletes.” said Coach Dickie McCarthy.
Below are portions of the release from the WBCA:
WBCA Recognizes Top Classroom Performance with
2010 Academic Top 25
ATLANTA - The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced its winners for the 2009-10 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.
“Congratulations to these teams who have excelled academically during the 2009-10 school year," WBCA CEO Beth Bass said. “Each of these coaches set an extraordinary example for their peers to follow by holding academics in such high esteem with their student-athletes."
NCAA Division III
Carnegie Mellon University is making its debut in the WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll in fashion by claiming the No. 1 position. The Tartans ended their season with a 9-16 overall mark.
The WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll for NCAA Division III is as follows:
|
|
School
|
2009-10 Head Coach
|
Team GPA
|
|
1
|
Carnegie Mellon University
|
Geraldine Seidl
|
3.616
|
|
2
|
Centenary College
|
Lorie Khalil
|
3.613
|
|
T3
|
University of Redlands
|
Rich Murphy
|
3.566
|
|
T3
|
Emerson College
|
Bill Gould
|
3.566
|
|
5
|
William Smith College
|
Lindsay Drury
|
3.547
|
|
6
|
University of The South
|
Dickie McCarthy
|
3.537
|
|
7
|
Simpson College
|
Brian Niemuth
|
3.535
|
|
8
|
Luther College
|
Jane Hildebrand
|
3.520
|
|
9
|
Finlandia University
|
Curtis Wittenberg
|
3.508
|
|
10
|
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
|
Lois Heeren
|
3.495
|
|
11
|
Gustavus Adolphus College
|
Mickey Haller
|
3.494
|
|
12
|
Emory University
|
Christy Thomaskutty
|
3.481
|
|
13
|
McDaniel College
|
Becky Martin
|
3.478
|
|
14
|
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
|
Sonia Raman
|
3.463
|
|
15
|
Concordia University (WI)
|
Stacey Brunner
|
3.461
|
|
16
|
Northland College
|
Bill Wilson
|
3.455
|
|
17
|
Elms College
|
Laura Habacker
|
3.443
|
|
18
|
Hope College
|
Brian Morehouse
|
3.437
|
|
19
|
Immaculata University
|
Patricia Canterino
|
3.435
|
|
20
|
Washington & Lee University
|
Mandy King
|
3.434
|
|
21
|
Yeshiva University
|
Karen Green
|
3.410
|
|
22
|
Case Western Reserve University
|
Jennifer Reimer
|
3.405
|
|
23
|
Chapman University
|
Carol Jue
|
3.403
|
|
24
|
Westminster College
|
Tracey Braden
|
3.394
|
|
25
|
Elmhurst College
|
Tethnie Werner
|
3.392
|