GLIAC Women’s Basketball Teams named to Academic Top 25

BAY CITY, Mich.- The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced its winners for the 2007-08 Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll and the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) was the only conference to place five teams on the list. Ashland University, the University of Findlay, Gannon University, Michigan Technological University, and Northwood University all made the list, which awards teams throughout the nation that carry the highest grade point averages for the entire season on the nomination submitted by WBCA-member head coaches. The award is given to the top 25 teams in NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA, and the Junior/Community College level.

Michigan Tech, who had a team GPA of 3.639, finished behind only the University of South Dakota. The Jackrabbits beat-out the Huskies by one-hundredth of a point at 3.649. "I'm extremely proud of the team and what they've accomplished in the classroom," said head coach John Barnes. "It means even more that they won a conference regular season title and tournament championship." The Huskies also qualified for their third NCAA Tournament under Coach Barnes.

 Gannon University's team was named to the honor roll for the fourth consecutive season, ranking ninth in the Division II list with a team grade point average of 3.508. The Lady Knights also placed eight of their players on the GLIAC All-Academic team while participating in their 11th consecutive conference tournament, which was the second-longest streak in GLIAC history.

Ashland University had a team grade point average of 3.439 which placed them 15th in the country. Along with all of the success in the classroom, the Eagles posted a 19-11 record and advanced to the championship game of the GLIAC Tournament.

Northwood was named to the list for the second straight season. The Timberwolves had an overall team grade point average of 3.398, which ranked them 23rd. nationally out of 275 Division II programs. "I am very proud of our team for this accomplishment," said Jeff Curtis, who is entering his fifth season as head coach. "This was a successful season for our team both on the court and in the classroom. I feel fortunate to be part of such a driven group of student-athletes." Northwood had one of the finest seasons in program history in 2007-08, going 18-9 and sharing the GLIAC North Division title.

Findlay's women's basketball team rounded out this year's Top 25 with a team GPA of 3.385. Despite some struggles on the court, the Oilers performed very strongly in the classroom and were great examples of all the student-athletes in the GLIAC.