July 16, 2008

CANYON, Texas - The West Texas A&M University women's basketball team has been named to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll.

The award, given in NCAA Division I, Division II, Division III, NAIA and Junior/Community College, recognizes teams that carry the highest grade point averages (GPA) for the entire season.

The Lady Buffs ranked fifth among all NCAA Division II women's basketball programs, recording an overall team GPA of 3.557 for the 2007-08 season. This continues a trend of academic honors for the Lady Buffs, one which has seen junior Emily Brister (Amarillo, Texas; Elementary Education) honored as a first team Academic all-America as well as the Lone Star Conference's Inaugural Fred Jacoby Academic Athlete of the Year, sophomore Holly Isaacs (Brownsfield, Texas; Biology- Pre-Pharmacy) selected to the LSC-South Division all-Academic team and senior Jenessa McKray (Sandy, Utah; General Studies) and junior Courtney Lee (Arlington, Texas; Sports & Exercise Science) named to the Commissioner's Honor Roll.

"I am very proud of what our team has accomplished over the past season," said WT head coach Krista Gerlich. "They have worked extremely hard, both in the classroom as well as on the court, and they have seen very tangible rewards for their efforts."

The Lady Buffs concluded the 2007-08 season with a record of 26-5 and were ranked 18th, nationally, in the final USA Today/ESPN Division II poll.

WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll - NCAA Division II (Rank, School, GPA):

1. Univ. of South Dakota 3.649 2. Michigan Technical Univ. 3.639 3. Seton Hill University 3.591 4. Univ. of Nebraska-Kearney 3.590 5. West Texas A&M University 3.557 6. Regis University 3.528 7. Rockhurst University 3.526 8. Saint Martin's University 3.515 9. Gannon University 3.508 10. Southwest Minnesota State 3.494 11. Shepherd University 3.488 12. West Liberty State College 3.481 13. Minnesota State-Moorehead 3.476 14. Univ. of North Dakota 3.474 15. Ashland University 3.439 16. Clarion University 3.420 T17. Abilene Christian Univ. 3.413 T17. Winona State University 3.413 19. Seattle Pacific University 3.412 20. Bemidji State University 3.406 21. Montana State Univ.-Billings 3.405 22. Franklin Pierce University 3.399 23. Northwood University 3.398 24. Colorado Christian University 3.396 25. University of Findlay 3.385