Salukis ranked 11th nationally in Team GPA
07/25/2019 | 1:44:00 | Women's Basketball
Southern earned the No. 11 ranking in the WBCA’s Academic Honor Roll, which is its highest finish in program history.
The Southern Illinois University women's basketball team (3.621) boasts the 11th-best combined grade point average among NCAA Division I schools, the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced Wednesday.
SIU's No. 11 ranking in the WBCA Academic Top-25 Honor Roll is a new program record. Southern's best finish prior to this season came in 2008 when Southern recorded a 3.371 GPA to finish 12th. SIU's 3.621 GPA, meanwhile, is the highest it has been of the now five times that the Salukis have earned a spot on the list.
Southern is one of four Missouri Valley Conference teams to earn inclusion on the list, and are joined by the Drake Bulldogs (No. 4, 3.695 GPA), the Illinois State Redbirds (No. 9, 3.636) and the Northern Iowa Panthers (No. 25, 3.504).
"This is a special honor for our program," said sixth-year head coach Cindy Stein. "Our coaching staff, including our academic advisor Hilary Wittenborn, continue to do a phenomenal job of supporting our student-athletes."
The WBCA Academic Top 25 recognizes NCAA Division I, II and III; NAIA and junior/community college women's basketball teams across the nation that carry the highest combined GPAs inclusive of all student-athletes on their rosters for the entire season. The 2018-19 season is the 24th in which the WBCA has compiled the honor rolls.
"The WBCA is pleased to recognize those women's basketball programs that have committed themselves to excellence on the court and in the classroom," said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. "The 117 teams we honor this year strive to achieve all-around success and we commend their efforts. Congratulations!"
All 11 current Salukis have a cumulative GPA over a 2.95, with nine of those over a 3.5 and seven above a 3.75.
