THREE HORIZON LEAGUE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TEAMS EARN WBCA HONOR OFF THE COURT

July 17, 2007

INDIANAPOLIS - Valparaiso University, the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay and Cleveland State University each finished in the Top 25 of the 2006-2007 Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Academic Team Honor Roll for Division I. The rankings were released on Monday and recognize teams throughout the nation that held the highest grade-point averages.

The Horizon League (three), the Big Sky Conference (three) and Missouri Valley Conference (four) were the only leagues to place three or more member institutions in the WBCA Academic Top 25.

Teams were recognized in the Top 25 based on the nominations submitted by WBCA member coaches.

Valparaiso, which joined the Horizon League earlier this month, finished No. 12 and was the highest ranked institution in the League with a team GPA of 3.419.

Green Bay was ranked 18th with a GPA of 3.334. The Phoenix was one of only four teams to be placed in the WBCA Academic Top 25 and compete in the 2007 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship.

Cleveland State finished 21st on the academic rolls and ended the 2006-2007 campaign with a team GPA of 3.310.

In the last 10 years, Valpo and Green Bay have made this honor a routine distinction. The Crusaders have ranked in the Top 25 in each of the last nine years, while the the Phoenix has finished in the Top 25 in seven of the last nine seasons. CSU returns to the Top 25 for the first time since the 2001-2002 season when the Vikings finished 11th.

WBCA 2006-2007 Academic Top 25 Honor Roll
Rank. Team, 2006-2007 Head Coach, GPA
1. South Dakota State^, Aaron Johnston, 3.693
2. Northern Iowa, Tanya Warren, 3.624
3. Saint Bonaventure, Jim Crowley, 3.594
4. Montana State, Tricia Binford, 3.557
5. Brown, Jean Marie Burr, 3.517
6. Oakland^, Beckie Francis, 3.515
7. Liberty, Carey Green, 3.508
8. Eastern Washington, Wendy Schuller, 3.471
9. Niagara, William Agronin, 3.457
10. Eastern Illinois, Brandy Sallee, 3.442
11. Villanova, Harry Perretta, 3.432
12. Valparaiso, Keith Freeman, 3.419
13. Indiana State, Jim Wiedie, 3.398
14. Marist*, Brian Giorgis, 3.389
15. Western Carolina^, Kellie Harper, 3.387
16. San Francisco, Tanya Haave, 3.382
17. Saint Louis, Shimmy Gray-Miller, 3.336
18. Green Bay*, Kevin Borseth, 3.334
19 Southern Illinois^, Dana Eikenberg, 3.318
20. Evansville, Tricia Cullop, 3.313
21. Cleveland State, Kate Peterson, 3.310
22. Northern Arizona, Laurie Kelly, 3.307
23. Bowling Green*, Curt Miller, 3.300
24. Utah Valley State, Cathy Nixon, 3.298
25. DePaul*, Douglas Bruno, 3.294


* - Competed in the 2007 NCAA Division I Women's Basketball Championship
^ - Competed in the 2007 Postseason Women's National Invitation Tournament