WU Women's Basketball is Ranked in Top 20 of D3 Academics by WBCA
By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University women's basketball team is ranked in the top 20 on the Women's Basketball Coaching Association Academic Top 25 Honor Roll for the 2019-20 season. The WBCA recognizes the top 25 teams in each NCAA Division, the NAIA, and junior colleges based on their team grade point averages for the fall and spring semesters. All student-athletes on a roster are included in determining a team's GPA.
During the 2019-20 academic year, the 12 Bearcats on the women's basketball team earned a combined 3.673 GPA while playing for Head Coach Peg Swadener. Willamette tied for 16th on the NCAA Division III Top 25 Honor Roll along with New York University and Washington and Lee University (Va.).
"I'm extremely proud of this team for the effort and success they have shown both on the court and in the classroom. Bearcat Women's Basketball is about pursuing excellence in all areas, and this competitive and hard-working group has undoubtedly brought that mission to life. I'm happy to see this team's dedication to academics rewarded with this honor."
-- Willamette Head Coach Peg Swadener
The national leader in Division III was Buena Vista College (Iowa) with a 3.865 team GPA. Vassar College (N.Y.) was listed second with a 3.794 GPA, while Ithaca College (N.Y.) was third with a 3.767 GPA. Emerson College (Mass.) ranked fourth in Division III at 3.763, and Baldwin Wallace University (Ohio) was fifth at 3.757.
On the basketball court, Willamette achieved a 13-12 overall record, including an 8-5 record at Cone Field House. The Bearcats allowed just 63.6 points per game and limited 12 of 25 opponents to 60 points or less.