Atlanta, Ga. - The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced its 2003-2004 Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll for NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA and Junior College/Community College. The award recognizes the nation's highest team grade point averages (GPA) for the 2003-04 season based upon nominations submitted by WBCA-member head coaches.

"It always brings the WBCA esteemed pleasure to recognize women's basketball programs that have not only committed themselves on the court, but academically as well," said WBCA CEO Beth Bass. "Each of these teams has set a benchmark of success in the classroom among their peers and in the sport."

Eastern Washington, Drury, Buena Vista and Frank Phillips College all make their debut at the No. 1 spot for the 2003-2004 Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll, while Concordia University - Nebraska continues its streak, claiming No. 1 honors for a monumental fifth straight year.

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
After leading the Eastern Washington University women's basketball team to its best three seasons since 1988, fourth-year head coach Wendy Schuller continues to move the Eagles on to bigger and better things. Finishing the season at 17-12, Eastern was ranked No. 3 in last year's Academic Top 25. "I am proud of our players for working so hard," said Schuller. "At the beginning of the year, it was a goal we set. A basketball championship is great, but this is an unbelievable honor."

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

NCAA Division II
Since taking over the helm of the Lady Panthers women's basketball program, Drury University Head Coach Nyla Milleson's teams have managed to keep themselves in the top 10 of the WBCA Academic Team Honor Roll. This year, they claim the top spot and lead all other divisions with the highest team GPA after placing 10th last year. In addition to their classroom success, Drury also reached the NCAA Division II national championship game where they came up one victory shy of a title to California University of PA. "This is an incredible accomplishment," remarked Milleson. "This caps off a great season both on and off the court. I feel fortunate and blessed with a team of intelligent young ladies."

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

NCAA Division III
The last time head coach Janet Berry's Buena Vista University Beavers were in the academic rankings, they finished at 25. This year, they made an incredible comeback leaping to the head of the class with an overall GPA of 3.603. "Last year was a banner year for us," Berry attested. "We set a record for wins in a season. What a thrill it is to be the top academic team! Our kids are committed on the court and in the classroom."

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

NAIA
Concordia University (NE) has once again raised the bar for academic achievement, earning a record fifth 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 2003, 2002, 2001, and 2000, the Bulldogs took the top spot with GPAs of 3.660, 3.685, 3.735, and 3.731, respectively. "We are really proud of this achievement," said Todd Voss, head coach of Concordia. "We stress excellence on the court and in the class. This is a tremendous honor - to receive this recognition for a fifth year in a row."

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

Junior College/Community College
Under the direction of new head coach Michael Wells, the Lady Plainsmen start the season on a positive note earning their first-ever No.1 ranking. Frank Phillips College athletic director, John Green shared: "I appreciate the WBCA for taking time to recognize efforts off the court. We set goals that we would turn the athletic program around while maintaining the integrity in the classroom, and awards like this show that this is what we are doing."

The WBCA Academic Top 10* Team Honor Roll for JC/CC is as follows:

Founded in 1981, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) 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 visit WBCA.org.