Moon Township, Pa. – The Robert Morris University women's basketball and women's indoor and outdoor track & field programs are recipients of NCAA Public Recognition Awards for their exceptional results in the classroom.
The NCAA Public Recognition Award is bestowed upon teams with an NCAA Division I Academic Progress Rate (APR) in the top 10 percent of all squads in their respective sports based on the APR data released in May 2020. This is the second year in a row that the Robert Morris women's track & field team has received the Public Recognition Award, and it's the first honor for the women's basketball program. The most recent APRs are multiyear rates based on scores from the 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, and 2018-19 academic years. Both programs received a perfect 1,000 score.
"It's very rewarding to see all our efforts make such an important list for Division I athletics," said Colonials women's basketball head coach Charlie Buscaglia. "A great deal of work ethic and effort goes into build a program that has a culture of APR strength. I'd like to thank everyone who works closely with our program. It's an absolute team effort with our coaching staff, administrators, athletic support, academic support, and faculty. Last but not least, we are very thankful to the faithful student-athletes that have come to our program to focus on development both on the court and in the classroom."
A total of 51 women's basketball teams were recognized, including new Horizon League colleagues Cleveland State and Milwaukee. A total of 36 women's track & field programs earned the accolade, as RMU joined conference partner Northern Kentucky among the recipients.
"The number of teams earning Public Recognition Awards – including those earning perfect scores – has increased again, demonstrating the commitment member schools and college athletes have made to high academic achievement," NCAA President Mark Emmert said. "Congratulations to these teams for their continued academic success."
The women's basketball team captured the Northeast Conference (NEC) Team GPA Award for the fourth consecutive season, posting a grade point average of 3.767. RMU placed 13 student-athletes on the NEC Winter Academic Honor Roll for achieving a 3.2 GPA or higher, with six earning additional NEC Winter Commissioner's Honor Roll recognition after posting a 3.75 GPA or higher. The Colonials' grade point average in 2019-20 should place them among the nation's best, as the program has been the only one to rank inside the top four of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Top 25 Division I Team Honor Roll in three straight seasons.
RELATED: Robert Morris Ranks No. 3 in 2018-19 WBCA Academic Top 25 Division I Team Honor Roll
The women's track & field team placed 19 student-athletes on the NEC Winter Academic Honor Roll, and 11 picking up additional Commissioner's Honor Roll plaudits. For the outdoor squad, 20 student-athletes were named to the NEC Spring Academic Honor Roll, and nine collected Commissioner's Honor Roll recognition. The program, which posted a 3.405 GPA in 2019-20, is RMU's first to earn a Public Recognition Award in consecutive academic years since men's hockey accomplished it five straight seasons from 2012-13 to 2016-17.
RELATED: Colonials Recognized on NEC Academic Honor Roll
From its fertile beginning as a men's basketball junior college powerhouse to one of the most diverse athletic programs in the Pittsburgh tri-state area, Robert Morris offers 16 intercollegiate athletic programs, including the only men's and women's NCAA Division I hockey teams and men's lacrosse team in the region. Over the last 44 years, the Colonials have claimed 50 conference regular-season championships and 51 league tournament titles. On July 1, 2020, RMU joined the Horizon League for 10 of its 16 athletic programs.
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