HOUGHTON, MI -- Courtesy: MTU
HOUGHTON, Mich. — The Michigan Tech women’s basketball team, which spent a large part of the 2009-10 season ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division II, finished with the nation’s top grade point average according to the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association 2010 Academic Top 25 list released today. The Huskies’ 3.732 GPA was higher than any women’s basketball team in any division in the nation.
“The team worked so hard at everything they did last year, and it showed,” said head coach Kim Cameron, who served as assistant coach a year ago. “Not everyone sees the behind-the-scenes effort it takes, and I’m happy that they are being recognized for it. I am so proud of them!”
On the court, Michigan Tech accumulated a 31-3 record and won a second straight NCAA Midwest Regional Championship in 2009-10. The Huskies also claimed the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference North Division regular season title and the GLIAC Tournament championship.
Tech has been among the top four in Division II each of the last four years and listed in the WBCA Academic Top 25 seven times since the organization began compiling team GPAs in 1997-98.
“The student-athletes in the women’s basketball program really epitomize the Division II philosophy,” said Michigan Tech athletic director Suzanne Sanregret. “They balance academics and athletics extremely well and excel at both. I am very proud of what they accomplish on the court and in the classroom. I commend the coaching staff for fostering an environment where both are a priority, and I congratulate the ladies on the national recognition they have earned.”
The other top five Division II teams on the WBCA Academic Top 25 list were Chadron State (3.641), Rockhurst (3.635), Saint Marting (3.591) and fellow GLIAC member Ashland (3.551).
The other division leaders were Utah Valley (3.630) in Division I, Carnegie Mellon (3.616) in Division III, Dana (3.727) in NAIA and Sheridan (3.575) in the junior college/community college category.
The full WBCA Division II Academic Top 25 list is below.
School 2009-10 Head Coach Team GPA
1 Michigan Technological University John Barnes 3.732
2 Chadron State College Tim Connealy 3.641
3 Rockhurst University Larry Park 3.635
4 Saint Martin’s University Timothy Healy 3.591
5 Ashland University Sue Ramsey 3.551
6 Holy Family University Mark Miller 3.548
7 Regis University Linda Raunig 3.534
8 Saint Thomas Aquinas Kim Lusk 3.524
9 Missouri Western State Lynn Plett 3.521
10 Maryville University-St Louis Chris Ellis 3.517
11 University of Findlay Kate Cummings 3.506
12 Gannon University Cleve Wright 3.491
13 Adelphi University Heather Jacobs 3.474
T14 Seton Hill University Ferne Labati 3.473
T14 Fort Hays State University Tony Hobson 3.473
16 Northwood University Jeff Curtis 3.466
17 Saint Michael’s College Jennifer Niebling 3.464
18 Wayne State College Chris Kielsmeier 3.454
19 Montana State University - Billings Kevin Woodin 3.451
20 Winona State University Scott Ballard 3.446
21 West Chester University of Pennsylvania Deirdre Kane 3.443
22 University of South Carolina - Aiken Michael Brandt 3.442
23 Fort Lewis College Mark Kellogg 3.428
24 West Liberty University Lynn Ullom 3.408
25 University of Nebraska - Omaha Patricia Shearer 3.403
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