ATLANTA – For the first time in program history, the Northwest women's basketball team has been recognized on the WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll presented by AT&T* for the 2014-15 season, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association announced Tuesday.

The WBCA Academic Top 25 annually recognizes NCAA Division I, II and 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 2014-15 season is the 20th in which the WBCA has compiled the honor rolls.

With a 3.478 cumulative grade-point average, the Northwest women's basketball team tied for the third-highest total in the Junior/Community College Division and is the lone representative from the Mississippi Association of Community and Junior Colleges (MACJC).

It's the third honor this offseason for the Lady Rangers, also being named the MACJC Women's Basketball Academic Team of the Year and an NJCAA All-Academic Team. 

"The WBCA applauds these teams for their commitment to academic excellence during the 2014-15 school year," Danielle Donehew said. "The student-athlete experience is an exciting and challenging time period and we appreciate these programs for setting an academic standard that other teams can strive to achieve. We value the hard work and dedication the players and coaches have put forth to thrive in the classroom and on the basketball court."

 

Rk Institution Head Coach GPA 1 Snow College Mike Russell 3.626 2 Sheridan College Frank McCarthy 3.547 3 Wabash Valley College Zach Loll 3.478 3 Northwest Mississippi Community College Don Edwards 3.478 5 Northwest College Janis Beal 3.426 6 Lincoln College Carol Wilson 3.406 7 Ventura College Ned Mircetic 3.405 8 Minnesota West Community and Technical College Mike Fury 3.400 9 Ellsworth Community College Ed Geitz 3.315 10 Mesa Community College Kori Stephenson 3.225 11 Umpqua Community College David Stricklin 3.179 12 McHenry County College Karen Wiley 3.058 13 Indian River State College Diana Couch 3.019 14 Frank Phillips College Eric Rodewald 3.005