WBCA - Top 25 Academic Honor Roll -


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WBCA Announces 2002 Academic Top 25 Team Honor Rolls for 2001-02

ATLANTA (September 17, 2002) -- The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) today announces its 2002 Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll for NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA and Junior College/Community College. The awards recognize the nation's highest team grade point averages (GPA) for the 2001-02 season based upon nominations submitted by WBCA-member coaches.

“Every year I am nothing short of amazed at how incredible some of these grade-point averages are,” said Beth Bass, the Chief Executive Officer of the WBCA. “For entire teams to produce GPAs like these is astounding. I am as proud of these student-athletes as I am sure their coaches and administrations are. Congratulations to the 118 teams we honor this year.”

ACADEMIC TOP 25 HONOR ROLL 2001-2002

Division	Institution	2001-02 Head Coach	GPA	Top 25 Range
NCAA I	University of Wyoming	Cindy Fisher	3.486	3.486-3.255
NCAA II	Abilene Christian Univ.	Wayne Williams	3.666	3.666-3.265
NCAA III	Messiah College	Mike Miller	3.733	3.733-3.329
NAIA	Concordia (NE) Univ	Dr. Micah Parker	3.685	3.685-3.281
JC/CC	Seward County CC	Jim Littell	3.769	3.769-2.970*

* Top 18 Range

Wyoming and Abilene Christian make their first first-place finishes in the WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll, while Messiah, Concordia and Seward County are all repeat winners from 2000-01. Concordia marks an unprecedented third consecutive No. 1 finish.

GPAs are calculated by dividing the total number of quality points earned by each student-athlete on an institution’s squad list in the given academic terms by the total number of hours earned by the team. The GPAs are rounded to the nearest thousandth of a point.

NCAA Division I

Entering her fifth-year as University of Wyoming Head Coach, Cindy Fisher sees the Cowgirls make their second appearance in the WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll. The school placed 18th in 1997 under then-Head Coach Chad Lavin. “To be one of the best schools academically out there, I think that they take as much pride in the academic side as they do in the basketball side and it has really shown,” said Fisher. Wyoming also had a league-high 11 members on this year's Mountain West Conference Women's Basketball All-Academic Team. Wyoming (13-15 overall, 5-9 MWC) wrapped up its season at the MWC Tournament with an 82-69 loss to Brigham Young University in March.

The WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll for NCAA Division I is as follows:

Rk.	Institution	2001-02 Head Coach	GPA
1.	University of Wyoming	Cindy Fisher	3.486
2.	University of Toledo	Mark Ehlen	3.465
3.	Indiana State University	Jim Wiedie	3.462
4.	Eastern Washington University	Wendy Schuller	3.451
5.	Valparaiso University	Keith Freeman	3.419
6.	Long Island University	Anthony Bozzella	3.413
7.	Binghamton University	Laurie Kelly	3.412
8.	University of Northern Iowa	Tony DiCecco	3.406
9.	University of Wisconsin-Green Bay	Kevin Borseth	3.402
10.	Weber State University	Carla Taylor	3.369
11.	Cleveland State University	Duffy Burns	3.331
12.	Belmont University	Tony Cross	3.315
13.	University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee	Sandy Botham	3.312
14.	Robert Morris University	Lynn Roman	3.304
15.	Drake University	Lisa Stone	3.294
16.	Mount St. Mary’s College	Vanessa Blair	3.292
17.	Indiana/Purdue-Indianapolis (IUPUI)	Kris Simpson	3.292
18.	St. Francis University (PA)	Myndi Hill	3.286
19.	Niagara University	Bill Agronin	3.281
20.	University of Oklahoma	Sherri Coale	3.280
21.	Sacred Heart University	Ed Swanson	3.275
22.	Ball State University	Tracy Roller	3.274
23.	University of Denver	Pam Tanner	3.263
24.	Yale University	Amy Backus	3.260
25.	Miami University (OH)	Maria Fantanarosa	3.255

NCAA Division II

In each of Wayne Williams’ five years as Head Coach of Abilene Christian University, his teams have placed in the WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll. In 2002, the Wildcats improved on their fifth-place finish of 2001. “I’m very excited for our student-athletes because they have just done an incredible job of balancing the classroom with athletics,” said Williams. Seven ACU basketball players -- the most of any school than any school in the Lone Star Conference South Division and tied with Southwestern Oklahoma for the most in the conference -- were named Academic All-LSC for the 2001-02 season. ACU (11-15 overall, 6-8 LSC) opens its season November 8.

The WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll for NCAA Division II is as follows:

Rk.	Institution	2001-02 Head Coach	GPA
1.	Abilene Christian University	Wayne Williams	3.666
2.	Montana State University-Billings	Karyn Ridgeway	3.552
3.	Regis University	Linda Raunig	3.493
4.	Minnesota State University-Mankato	Ann Walker	3.491
5.	Mars Hill College	Mandy Mattox	3.475
6.	Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville	Wendy Hedberg	3.467
7.	Northern Kentucky University	Nancy Winstel	3.464
8.	Drury University	Nyla Milleson	3.441
9.	Missouri Southern State College	Maryann Mitts	3.434
10.	Western State College	Sandee Mott	3.433
11.	Augustana College	Dave Krauth	3.410
12.	Ashland University	Sue Ramsey	3.399
13.	University of Incarnate Word	Angela Lawson	3.394
14.	Lake Superior State University	Kris Bullock	3.386
15.	Valdosta State University	Kiley Hill	3.378
16.	The University of South Dakota	Chad Lavin	3.377
17.	Pittsburg State University	Steve High	3.360
T18.	California University of Pennsylvania	Darcie Vincent	3.333
T18.	Rockhurst University	Rebecca Morrisey	3.333
20.	Angelo State University	Sally Walling-Brooks	3.324
21.	Ferris State University	Tracey Fisk	3.313
22.	Mesa State College	Steve Kirkham	3.303
23.	Colorado Christian University	Lisa Parker	3.294
24.	Central Missouri State University	Scott Ballard	3.279
25.	Winona State University	Terese Sheridan	3.265

NCAA Division III

Messiah College made a repeat finish in first-place on the WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll this year. The school has ranked in the Top 25 in five of the past six seasons. “We train athletes to grow and achieve with excellence in all aspects of their lives, which would include good athletics, academics, relationships and spiritual development,” said Head Coach Mike Miller, who is entering his 17th year at the helm of the Falcons. His 247 wins place him atop the all-time wins list at Messiah. In 2001-02, Messiah (23-4 overall, 13-2 Middle Atlantic Corporation) also finished 21st in the final USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll.

The WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll for NCAA Division III is as follows:

Rk.	Institution	2001-02 Head Coach	GPA
1.	Messiah College	Mike Miller	3.733
2.	Savannah College of Art and Design	Eddie Concepcion	3.605
3.	University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh	Pamela Ruder	3.569
4.	Nebraska Wesleyan University	Brad White	3.544
5.	Wartburg College	Monica Severson	3.536
6.	Central College	Mick Angel	3.503
7.	Gustavus Adolphus College	Mickey Haller	3.497
8.	Baldwin Wallace College	Cheri Harrer	3.493
9.	Webster University	Ryan Barke	3.481
10.	University of St. Thomas (MN)	Tricia Dornisch	3.477
11.	Wilmington College	Jerry Scheve	3.437
12.	Whitworth College	Helen Higgs	3.422
13.	Concordia College (MN)	Sara Cepek	3.418
14.	Brandeis University	Carol Simon	3.412
15.	Millikin University	Lori Kerans	3.405
16.	Emory University	Myra Sims	3.401
17.	Hardin-Simmons University	Shanna Briggs	3.393
T18.	Hope College	Brian Morehouse	3.389
T18.	Wellesley College	Kathy Hagerstrom	3.389
20.	Wellesley College	Dr. Lisa Pleban	3.381
21.	Marymount University	Bill Finney	3.346
22.	Southwestern University	Kimberley Rybczyk	3.348
23.	College of Notre Dame (MD)	Scot Reisinger	3.345
24.	Kalamazoo College	Michelle Fortier	3.343
25.	Buena Vista University	Janet Berry	3.329

NAIA

Concordia University (NE) makes an unprecedented third consecutive first-place finish atop the WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll. No other team - NCAA, NAIA or JC/CC - has equaled this feat. In 2001 and 2000, the Bulldogs took the top spot with GPAs of 3.735 and 3.731, respectively. "Winning 28 games and making it to the Sweet 16 was nice, but I'm more proud of that team for what they've accomplished off the court in the classroom," said former Head Coach Dr. Micah Parker, who led the team for four years and now is University of Nebraska-Lincoln Women's Basketball Director of Operations. Todd Voss takes over the reins at Concordia (28-6 overall, 12-4 Great Plains Athletic Conference), which posted its third straight 19-plus-win season in 2002.

The WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll for NAIA is as follows:

Rk.	Institution	2001-02 Head Coach	GPA
1.	Concordia University (NE)	Dr. Micah Parker	3.685
2.	Doane College	Tracee Fairbanks	3.641
3.	University of Montana Western	Kevin Engellant	3.624
4.	Mayville State University	Jay Tschetter	3.575
5.	Shorter College	Vic Mitchell	3.547
6.	Carroll College	Jim Gross	3.531
7.	Siena Heights University	Renee Kudzia	3.518
8.	Georgetown College	Susan Johnson	3.482
9.	Lee University	Tiffany Hill	3.466
10.	Vanguard University	Russ Davis	3.439
11.	Bacone College	Rusty Kennedy	3.428
12.	Brescia University	Marty Rowe	3.423
13.	Midland Lutheran College	Joanne Bracker	3.413
14.	Mount Marty College	Chuck Iverson	3.385
15.	Saint Vincent College	Kristen Zawacki	3.378
16.	Dickinson State University	Tara Kreklau	3.376
17.	Grand View College	Garey Smith	3.369
18.	Trevecca Nazarene University	Julie van Beek	3.345
19.	Mount St. Clare College	Meg Schebler	3.335
20.	Midway College	Timothy Southers	3.311
21.	McKendree College	Melissa Ringhausen	3.303
22.	Campbellsville University	Donna Wise	3.297
23.	Fresno Pacific University	Diane Wiese	3.296
24.	Southwestern College	Dave Denly	3.293
25.	Viterbo University	Bobbi Vandenberg	3.281

Junior College/Community College

Seward County Community College (KS) repeated this year as the No. 1 team in the WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll. "Last year we were 38-0 and were National Champions, so we're very happy that our kids are getting it done on the floor and in the classroom as well," said Head Coach Jim Littell. Seward's 3.769 team GPA this year was the highest for all levels - NCAA, NAIA or JC/CC. Seward (38-0 overall, 16-0 Kansas Jayhawk Conference) featured WBCA JC/CC National Player of the Year Kim Ortega, who signed to play this year at Texas Christian University.

The WBCA Academic Top 25* Team Honor Roll for JC/CC is as follows:

Rk.	Institution	2001-02 Head Coach	GPA
1.	Seward County CC	Jim Littell	3.769
2.	John Wood CC	Norman Rodriguez	3.440
3.	Kiswaukee College	Karen Wiley	3.422
4.	Colby CC	Tom Stephens	3.398
5.	Salt Lake City CC	Betsy Specketer	3.358
6.	Independence CC	Jim Chambers	3.313
7.	South Plains College	Lyndon Hardin	3.312
8.	Odessa College	Timi Brown	3.266
9.	Northland College (MN)	Mike Zachow	3.242
10.	Mineral Area College	Lana LaBruyere	3.218
11.	Northeastern JC	Mike Brandt	3.215
12.	Lincoln College	Carol Wilson	3.190
13.	St. Catharine College	Jason Montgomery	3.184
14.	Grayson County College	Michael Wells	3.150
15.	Dean College	Bill Craig	3.146
16.	Northern Oklahoma College	Greg Krause	3.068
17.	Gulf Coast CC	Roonie Scovel	2.995
18.	St. Petersburg College	William Smith	2.970

* = 18 nominations were submitted to the WBCA for 2002

Founded in 1981, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association promotes women’s basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game in all of its aspects as an amateur sport for women and girls. For more information about the WBCA please check our website www.wbca.org.

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