ATLANTA, Ga. – The West Liberty University women’s basketball team checked in at No. 21 Tuesday afternoon when the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) released its 25th annual NCAA Division II Academic Top 25.
Coach Kyle Cooper’s Lady Hilltoppers posted a combined team grade point average of 3.656 for the 2019-20 academic year. Every one of Cooper’s 13 Lady Hilltoppers had GPAs of 3.00 or better in the spring with nine of them at 3.50 or higher and seven turning in perfect 4.00 GPAs.
“Pushing our academics to another level has been a priority for Coach (Cassie) Seth and I,” Cooper said. “Our players are extremely driven on and off the court and we are incredibly proud to see their efforts recognized and rewarded at the national level.”
The WLU women were the only Mountain East Conference squad to crack the WBCA’s Academic Top 25 for the 2019-20 season.
The WBCA awards are presented annually in NCAA Division I, Division II, Division III, NAIA, and Junior College/Community College to the teams which maintained the highest combined grade-point average for the season. The team GPAs are calculated by dividing the total number of quality points earned by every student-athlete on the team roster by the total number of hours earned by the team.
“The WBCA applauds these head coaches and their teams for their commitment to academic excellence,” WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew said. “We appreciate and value the hard work and dedication the players and coaches have put forth to thrive in the classroom and on the basketball court.”
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
2019-20 WBCA Academic Top 25
NCAA Division II
School Head Coach GPA
1. Seton Hill Mark Katarski 3.831
2. Ashland Kari Pickens 3.802
3. Eckerd Paul Honsinger 3.788
4. Lubbock Christian Steve Gomez 3.779
(tie) Tiffin Jessie Ivey 3.779
6. Lindenwood Katie Falco 3.768
7. Gannon Cleve Wright 3.764
8. Michigan Tech Samantha Hoyt 3.760
9. Wisconsin-Parkside Jen Conely 3.756
10. MSU-Moorhead Karla Nelson 3.726
11. McKendree Kari Kerkhoff 3.714
12. Point Loma Nazarene Lisa Faulkner 3.712
13. Bentley Barbara Stevens 3.711
14. Rockhurst Larry Park 3.707
15. Minnesota State Emilee Thiesse 3.706
16. Southern New Hampshire Karen Pinkos 3.679
17. Augustana Dave Krauth 3.677
18. University of the Sciences Jackie Hartzell 3.672
19. Embry-Riddle (Fla.) Lisa Wilson 3.671
20. Chaminade Arthur King 3.663
21. WEST LIBERTY Kyle Cooper 3.656
22. Seattle Pacific Mike Simonson 3.652
23. Colorado-Colo. Springs Lynn Plett 3.646
24. Winona State Scott Ballard 3.644
25. West Texas A&M Kristen Mattio 3.633
