Women's Basketball Posts 5th Highest GPA in Division I

MACOMB, Ill. -- Western Illinois women's basketball excelled in the classroom this past season, posting the fifth-highest GPA among Division I women's basketball programs, the WBCA announced Thursday (July 24). The Leathernecks recorded a cumulative team GPA of 3.607, highest among all programs in The Summit League.

Kansas City, a former member of The Summit League, led all Division I programs with a 3.628 team GPA. Eastern Washington (3.615), Northern Colorado (3.614), and St. Francis (NY) (3.608) rounded out the top-four.

"Our coaching staff made a commitment when we arrived three years ago to build this program the right way, and I think being ranked in the top five nationally for GPA is a direct result of the type of student-athletes we are bringing to Western Illinois University," said head coach JD Gravina. "These young women are intelligent, hard-working, and very intrinsically motivated. I'm incredibly proud of our team and thankful to the WBCA for giving them this recognition."

Seven members of the team were named to The Summit League Academic Honor Roll in 2013-14, posting a minimum 3.0 grade point average. Of those seven, four earned the Distinguished Scholar award: Rebecca Henricson, Ashley Luke, Tori Niemann and Liz Skotowski. During the Spring 2014 semester Michelle Farrow, Henricson, Luke and Niemann earned a 4.0 GPA.

The WBCA Academic Top 25 annually recognizes NCAA Division I, II, III; NAIA; and junior/community college women's basketball teams across the nation that carry the highest combined grade point average (GPA) inclusive of all student-athletes on their rosters for the entire season. The 2013-14 season is the 19th in which the WBCA has compiled the honor rolls.

The Fighting Leathernecks kick-off the 2014-15 season on Nov. 6 when they play host to William Jewell in an exhibition, set to tip-off at 7 p.m. (CT). The regular season opens up Saturday, Nov. 15 with a road contest against the University of Missouri, while the Leathernecks open the home slate of the regular season against William Woods on Nov. 17 at 7 p.m.

Print Friendly Version