DePaul Named to WBCA Academic Top 25

CHICAGO – Once again validating coach Doug Bruno's strong emphasis on academics, the DePaul women's basketball team was ranked in the 2017-18 WBCA Academic Top 25.

In Division I, the Blue Demons came in at No. 15 with a team grade-point average of 3.531.

Striving for the best both on and off the court, DePaul was the only team named to both the Academic Top 25 and the USA Today Coaches Poll which is published after the NCAA tournament.

WBCA Academic Top 25 teams Green Bay and Belmont were ranked in the Associated Press Top 25 which is finalized before the NCAA tournament.

The WBCA Academic Poll dates back to the 1997-98 season, and the Blue Demons have appeared in 14 of those polls. They have been honored in 12 of the last 13 polls, ranked as high as No. 2 (2011-12 and 2010-11) and have a total of six top-10 finishes since 2005-06.

Also last season, forward Mart'e Grays received national recognition after being named to the I-AAA ADA Scholar-Athlete Team.

Green Bay, Michigan Technological University, Emerson College, Mount Marty College and Northwest College sit atop their respective divisions in the 2017-18 WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Rolls announced by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.

Green Bay, coached by Kevin Borseth, finished first among NCAA Division I members with a 3.753 cumulative team grade-point average. Michigan Tech, coached by Kim Cameron, led NCAA Division II members with a 3.796 GPA.

Emerson, coached by William Gould, took top honors in NCAA Division III with a 3.712 GPA. Mount Marty, coached by Thomas Schlimgen, was No. 1 in NAIA with a 3.683 GPA. And Northwest, coached by Janis Beal, led all two-year college members with a 3.449 GPA.

The WBCA Academic Top 25 recognizes NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA and two-year GPAs inclusive of all student-athletes on their rosters for the entire season. The 2017-18 season is the 23nd 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 119 teams we honor this year strive to achieve all-around success and we commend their efforts. Congratulations!"

Here is the 2017-18 WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll for Division I. The head coach listed for each institution was its head coach during the 2017-18 season.

Rank	Institution	Head Coach	GPA
1	University of Wisconsin, Green Bay	Kevin Borseth	3.753
2	Western Illinois University	JD Gravina	3.751
3	St. Francis College	John Thurston	3.749
4	Robert Morris University	Charlie Buscaglia	3.748
5	Loyola University Maryland	Joseph Logan	3.736
6	University of Idaho	Jon Newlee	3.691
7	Drake University	Jennie Baranczyk	3.653
8	South Dakota State University	Aaron Johnston	3.641
9	Creighton University	Jim Flanery	3.633
10	Youngstown State University	John Barnes	3.615
11	IUPUI	Austin Parkinson	3.614
12	Miami University OH	Megan Duffy	3.600
13	Belmont University	Bart Brooks	3.595
14	Lafayette College	Kia Damon	3.538
15	DePaul University	Douglas Bruno	3.531
16	Utah Valley University	Cathy Nixon	3.508
17	University of South Dakota	Dawn Plitzuweit	3.506
T18	Eastern Washington University	Wendy Schuller	3.500
T18	North Dakota State University	Maren Walseth	3.500
20	Fairfield University	Joseph Frager	3.499
21	University of Northern Colorado	Kamie Ethridge	3.490
22	University of Wyoming	Joe Legerski	3.476
23	Houston Baptist	Donna Finnie	3.472
24	Fordham University	Stephanie Gaitley	3.464
25	Eastern Illinois University	Matthew Bollant	3.456

Players Mentioned

Martè Grays

DePaul University Athletics