Atlanta - The Adelphi University women's basketball team ranked 16th in all of NCAA Division II in cumulative team grade point average in 2021-22, and the Panthers have now been recognized by the national association of collegiate women's basketball coaches for that achievement.

The Panthers posted a 3.727 team GPA last year to earn WBCA Academic Top 25 selection today, helped in part by three student-athlets who posted a perfect 4.0 in the last academic year. The entire roster of 17 was named to the NE10 Academic Honor Roll in the spring semester, and scoring leader Emily Miccile anchored the team as its Academic All-Conference honoree. On the court, the team qualified for the Northeast-10 Conference tournament as the Southwest Division's No. 3 seed with a 10-8 league record.

Head coach Sade Jackson says that establishing an expectation of excellence both on and off the court was crucial in her first year at the helm. 

"I am extremely proud of our girls' efforts in the classroom this year," Jackson said. "Their hard work exemplifies the ways in which they embody the whole student-athlete and excel in areas beyond just basketball."

For 27 years, the WBCA Academic Top 25 has recognized the NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA and two-year college women's basketball teams across the nation with the highest combined GPAs inclusive of all student-athletes on their rosters for the entire season. The Panthers last received this honor in the 2009-10 season, and there are more than 300 women's basketball programs across the country in Division II. The full Division II Top 25 can be found in the list below. 

"The WBCA family of coaches is committed to the student-athlete experience and celebrates these teams that have demonstrated excellence in the classroom," WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew said.  "This year's WBCA Academic Top 25 is a powerful list of teams and their head coaches who have winning cultures that prepare their student-athletes for success in life. We are also pleased this year to recognize all teams that achieved the minimum 3.0 combined GPA required for nomination. That alone is no small feat considering the rigors of playing college athletics."

WBCA Academic Top 25 - NCAA Division II

Rank	Institution	Head Coach	GPA
1	Fort Hays State University	Tony Hobson	3.814
T2	Ursuline College	Shannon Sword	3.806
T2	Northwest Missouri State University	Austin Meyer	3.806
4	Lubbock Christian University	Steve Gomez	3.805
5	East Stroudsburg University	Stephanie Del Preore	3.800
6	Ashland University	Kari Pickens	3.798
T7	William Jewell College	Jill Slominski	3.770
T7	Montana State University Billings	Kevin Woodin	3.770
9	Kutztown University	Janet Malouf	3.768
10	Pace University	Carrie Seymour	3.755
11	Minot State University	Mike Brandt	3.753
12	Point Loma Nazarene University	Charity Elliott	3.746
13	Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University	Lisa Wilson	3.745
14	University of Montevallo	Gary Van Atta	3.736
15	Michigan Technological University	Samantha Clayton	3.734
16	Adelphi University	Sade Jackson	3.727
17	University of Nebraska Kearney	Carrie Eighmey	3.725
18	Wayne State University	Carrie Lohr	3.723
19	Minnesota State University Moorhead	Karla Nelson	3.686
20	Seton Hill University	Mark Katarski	3.679
21	Henderson State University	Jill Thomas	3.678
22	Lindenwood University	Katie Falco	3.670
23	Rockhurst University	Larry Park	3.658
24	Fort Lewis College	Taylor Harris	3.653
25	University of Charleston	Tianni Kelly	3.643

 

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About Adelphi Athletics
A regionally- and nationally-competitive NCAA Division II institution located in Garden City, N.Y., Adelphi University has been a proud member of the Northeast-10 Conference since 2009.

Winners of 17 NCAA Division II National Championships and four NE10 Presidents' Cups, Adelphi student-athletes have excelled at the conference, regional and national level, both on the field of play and in the classroom. In turn, the Adelphi University Department of Athletics is committed to fostering an environment of diversity, inclusion, equity and success, where its student-athletes can thrive both on campus and off.

Stay connected with Adelphi Athletics by following the Panthers at AUPanthers.com or via social media on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram and wear your Panther pride by shopping for official Adelphi Panthers gear at our licensed team store.