ATLANTA, Georgia - The Henderson State women's basketball program finished the 2021-22 season as the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's 21st ranked Division II team on the WBCA Top-25 Academic Team Honor Roll. This is the first time under head coach
Jill Thomas HSU has found itself in the Academic Top-25 as HSU was the only GAC team to make the rankings.
The WBCA Academic Top-25 recognizes NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA and two-year college women's basketball teams across the nation that carry the highest combined GPAs inclusive of all student-athletes on their rosters for the entire season.
"The WBCA family of coaches is committed to the student-athlete experience and celebrates these teams that have demonstrated excellence in the classroom," WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew said. "This year's WBCA Academic Top-25 is a powerful list of teams and their head coaches who have winning cultures that prepare their student-athletes for success in life."
Thomas' squad secured a team-GPA of 3.678 as a staggering nine Reddies - 60 percent of the entire women's basketball roster last season - were named Academic All-GAC honorees.
Jasmine Bailey,
Bobbi Bazzle,
JJ Eddens,
Ashley Farrar,
Alee McClendon,
Jadah Pickens,
Gracie Raby,
Lani Snowden and
Karrington Whaley each received the postseason conference academic honor.
The women's basketball program was recognized as the academic team of the year at Henderson's year-end awards ceremony, "The Redspys," after seeing similar success on the hardwood, reaching the semifinals in the GAC Tournament as the four seed thanks to a 19-11 record in the 2021-22 season.
Having reached the conference semifinals two of the last three seasons, HSU will begin the path for another deep run in the GAC Tournament when it opens the 2022-23 season in the GAC/MIAA Conference Challenge against Missouri Southern Friday, Nov. 11 in Searcy, Arkansas.
NCAA Division II Academic Team Rankings
| Rank |
Institution |
GPA |
| 1 |
Fort Hays State University |
3.814 |
| T2 |
Ursuline College |
3.806 |
| T2 |
Northwest Missouri State University |
3.806 |
| 4 |
Lubbock Christian University |
3.805 |
| 5 |
East Stroudsburg University |
3.800 |
| 6 |
Ashland University |
3.798 |
| T7 |
William Jewell College |
3.770 |
| T7 |
Montana State University Billings |
3.770 |
| 9 |
Kutztown University |
3.768 |
| 10 |
Pace University |
3.755 |
| 11 |
Minot State University |
3.753 |
| 12 |
Point Loma Nazarene University |
3.746 |
| 13 |
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University |
3.745 |
| 14 |
University of Montevallo |
3.736 |
| 15 |
Michigan Technological University |
3.734 |
| 16 |
Adelphi University |
3.727 |
| 17 |
University of Nebraska Kearney |
3.725 |
| 18 |
Wayne State University |
3.723 |
| 19 |
Minnesota State University Moorhead |
3.686 |
| 20 |
Seton Hill University |
3.679 |
| 21 |
Henderson State University |
3.678 |
| 22 |
Lindenwood University |
3.670 |
| 23 |
Rockhurst University |
3.658 |
| 24 |
Fort Lewis College |
3.653 |
| 25 |
University of Charleston |
3.643 |
