WBCA Release
ATLANTA -- Kutztown University women's basketball earned special mention for having NCAA Division II's highest team grade point average during the 2020-21 academic year as the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) released its Academic Top 25 Team Honor Rolls Tuesday morning.
The Golden Bears produced a 3.852 GPA, which would have put them at the top of the divisional rankings. Kutztown, Seton Hill (3.837) and Embry-Riddle (Fla.) (3.815) were the top-three in Division II, but all had their intercollegiate seasons canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, rendering them ineligible for the top 25. Instead, each of the top three received special mention from the organization, with Lubbock Christian posting the highest team GPA (3.783) of DII teams competing this season.
Led by coach
Janet Malouf, Kutztown also ranked fifth among institutions nationwide from all NCAA divisions, NAIA and two-year colleges. The Golden Bears were behind only Maine (DI, 3.900), Yeshiva (DIII, 3.876), Johns Hopkins (DIII, 3.875) and Youngstown State (DI, 3.874).
The WBCA Academic Top 25 recognizes 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 2020-21 season is the 26th in which the WBCA has compiled the honor rolls.
"Congratulations to each of the teams recognized in the 2020-21 WBCA Academic Top 25," said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. "Their head coaches are to be commended for fostering an environment of excellence for their student-athletes both on the court and, more importantly, in the classroom; particularly with the additional stress this season caused by the uncertainty resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic."
The women's basketball team continued its strong run of academic awards in recent weeks. Eleven Golden Bears were named to Kutztown's Spring 2021 Dean's List and 2020-21 PSAC Scholar-Athletes.