July 20, 2010
For Immediate Release
For more information: James Warnick (801) 863-6231
University Marketing & Communications: Mike Rigert (801) 863-6807
Written by: James Warnick (801) 863-6231
ATLANTA - The Utah Valley University women’s basketball team was recognized on Tuesday by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) for having the best NCAA Division I team GPA in the nation, with a 3.630, for the 2009- 10 academic year.
“I’m so excited for our girls,” UVU head coach Cathy Nixon Said. “To watch them on a daily basis and see how committed they are academically, this is a tremendous recognition for them. I just really credit the girls.”
“This isn’t only a credit to the three or four girls that had a 4.0 this past year but also those who might not be 4.0 students but did everything they could to keep their GPAs up. From top- to- bottom I am just thrilled for our kids. What an honor,” Nixon added.
This is the fourth consecutive appearance for UVU on the WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll. 2009- 10 marks the first year that the Wolverines have secured the top spot amongst NCAA Division I institutions. Aside from its classroom successes, Utah Valley capped off its season by winning the inaugural Great West Conference Tournament championship and finished the year with a 10- 22 record.
“What a fantastic accomplishment for our women’s basketball team,” UVU Director of Athletics Michael V. Jacobsen said. “To finish number one in the nation, our first full NCAA eligible year is such an outstanding accomplishment for Coach Nixon and our student athletes. We could not be more proud and happy for them.”
This award, given in NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA and Junior College/Community College, recognizes teams throughout the nation that carry the highest grade point averages (GPA) for the entire season based on the nomination submitted by WBCA- member head coaches.
| Division | Institution | Head Coach | Team GPA |
| NCAA I | Utah Valley University | Cathy Nixon | 3.630 |
| NCAA II | Michigan Technological University | John Barnes | 3.732 |
| NCAA III | Carnegie Mellon University | Geraldine Seidl | 3.616 |
| NAIA | Dana College | M. Shane Larson | 3.727 |
| JC/CC | Sheridan College | Frank McCarthy | 3.575 |
Four of the five institutions are at the top spot for their division on the WBCA Academic Top 25 Honor Roll for the first time. Dana College claimed the top spot in NAIA for the second year in a row and fourth time overall for their division. In Division I, Utah Valley University is making its fourth Top 25, while Michigan Tech University (Division II) has appeared six times prior. Carnegie Mellon University (Division III) and Sheridan College (JC/CC) are both appearing in the Top 25 for the first time.
GPAs are calculated by dividing the total number of quality points earned by each student- athlete on an institution’s roster in the given academic terms by the total number of hours earned by the team. The GPAs are rounded to the nearest thousandth of a point. Per a motion passed by the WBCA Board of Directors in 2007, teams making the list of Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll must obtain at least a 3.000 overall GPA.
“Congratulations to these teams who have excelled academically during the 2009- 10 school year,” WBCA CEO Beth Bass said. “Each of these coaches set an extraordinary example for their peers to follow by holding academics in such high esteem with their student- athletes.”
The WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll for NCAA Division I is as follows:
| Rank | School | 2009- 10 Head Coach | Team GPA |
| 1 | Utah Valley University | Cathy Nixon | 3.630 |
| 2 | South Dakota State University | Aaron Johnston | 3.622 |
| 3 | Univ. of Maryland, Baltimore County | Phil Stern | 3.578 |
| 4 | Indiana State University | Teri Moren | 3.508 |
| 5 | Creighton University | Jim Flanery | 3.506 |
| 6 | Bowling Green State University | Curt Miller | 3.500 |
| 7 | University of Northern Iowa | Tanya Warren | 3.464 |
| 8 | DePaul University | Douglas Bruno | 3.455 |
| 9 | Lipscomb University | Frank Bennett | 3.452 |
| 10 | University of North Dakota | Gene Roebuck | 3.442 |
| 11 | University of New Mexico | Don Flanagan | 3.433 |
| 12 | North Dakota State University | Carolyn DeHoff | 3.427 |
| 13 | Northern Arizona University | Laurie Kelly | 3.425 |
| 14 | Bucknell University | Kathy Fedorjaka | 3.422 |
| 15 | Monmouth University | Stephanie Gaitley | 3.412 |
| 16 | University of South Dakota | Ryun Williams | 3.368 |
| 17 | Saint Bonaventure University | Jim Crowley | 3.354 |
| 18 | University of Northern Colorado | Jaime White | 3.351 |
| 19 | University of Denver | Erik Johnson | 3.342 |
| 20 | Seattle University | Joan Bonvicini | 3.341 |
| 21 | University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee | Sandy Botham | 3.340 |
| 22 | Eastern Washington University | Wendy Schuller | 3.328 |
| 23 | University of Hartford | Jennifer Rizzotti | 3.321 |
| 24 | Oakland University | Beckie Francis | 3.318 |
| 25 | Cornell University | Dayna Smith | 3.308 |
###
