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