ATLANTA, Ga. - The Eckerd women's basketball team continued its extraordinary 2019-20 season with one final accolade from the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). The Tritons ranked third nationally in the 25th annual WBCA Academic Top 25 Division II Honor Roll as released by the organization on Tuesday, August 11.
EC posted an astounding 3.788 team GPA over the year. The award comes on the heels of the program's second SSC Tournament Championship and fourth straight national tournament appearance. The Tritons finished the season 24-5 overall with a 17-3 mark in Sunshine State Conference play. Eckerd also set a program record for team field goal percentage, which also ranked fifth nationally.
"Finishing third nationally with a team GPA of 3.78 is an outstanding achievement for our players and program, particularly following the great success we had on the court this season with a 24-5 overall record, a Conference Tournament Championship and an NCAA Tournament appearance," said head coach Paul Honsinger. "We stress academic goals throughout the year with our team and I know how committed they are in the classroom, and this award validates their efforts. I'm extremely proud of each player for demonstrating how they excel as elite student-athletes."
The Tritons finished just 0.04 points away from the top GPA in the nation of over 300 Division II programs. Seton Hill (Penn.) and Ashland (Ohio) were the only two teams ranked ahead of Eckerd with 3.821 and 3.802 GPAs. Embry-Riddle was the only other Sunshine State Conference school in the Honor Roll, coming in at No. 19.
The honor is the first time Eckerd has appeared in the WBCA Academic Top 25 Honor Roll in program history.
The WBCA Academic Top 25 recognizes NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA and two-year GPAs inclusive of all student-athletes on their rosters for the entire season.
Division II WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll
|
Rank
|
Institution
|
Head Coach
|
GPA
|
|
1
|
Seton Hill University
|
Mark Katarski
|
3.831
|
|
2
|
Ashland University
|
Kari Pickens
|
3.802
|
|
3
|
Eckerd College
|
Paul Honsinger
|
3.788
|
|
T4
|
Tiffin University
|
Jessie Ivey
|
3.779
|
|
T4
|
Lubbock Christian University
|
Steve Gomez
|
3.779
|
|
6
|
Lindenwood University
|
Katie Falco
|
3.768
|
|
7
|
Gannon University
|
Cleve Wright
|
3.764
|
|
8
|
Michigan Technological University
|
Samantha Hoyt
|
3.760
|
|
9
|
University of Wisconsin Parkside
|
Jen Conely
|
3.756
|
|
10
|
Minnesota State University Moorhead
|
Karla Nelson
|
3.726
|
|
11
|
McKendree University
|
Kari Kerkhoff
|
3.714
|
|
12
|
Point Loma Nazarene University
|
Lisa Faulkner
|
3.712
|
|
13
|
Bentley University
|
Barbara Stevens
|
3.711
|
|
14
|
Rockhurst University
|
Larry Park
|
3.707
|
|
15
|
Minnesota State University
|
Emilee Thiesse
|
3.706
|
|
16
|
Southern New Hampshire University
|
Karen Pinkos
|
3.679
|
|
17
|
Augustana University
|
Dave Krauth
|
3.677
|
|
18
|
University of the Sciences
|
Jackie Hartzell
|
3.672
|
|
19
|
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
|
Lisa Wilson
|
3.671
|
|
20
|
Chaminade University
|
Arthur King
|
3.663
|
|
21
|
West Liberty University
|
Kyle Cooper
|
3.656
|
|
22
|
Seattle Pacific University
|
Mike Simonson
|
3.652
|
|
23
|
University of Colorado Colorado Springs
|
Lynn Plett
|
3.646
|
|
24
|
Winona State University
|
Scott Ballard
|
3.644
|
|
25
|
West Texas A&M University
|
Kristen Mattio
|
3.633
|
