Moon Township, Pa. – The RMU women's basketball program continued its tradition of success in the classroom, earning the No. 3 ranking in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Academic Top 25 Division I Team Honor Roll, as announced by the organization in a press release this afternoon.

RMU posted a 3.824 term grade point average over the 2020-21 school year, collecting its third consecutive No. 3 designation. The Colonials extended their streak of five straight seasons with a top-four ranking in the WBCA Academic Top 25, remaining the only Division I school to do so over this stretch. This unprecedented run began in 2016-17 (3.726) with a national runner-up finish, followed by a No. 4 ranking in 2017-18 (3.748). RMU posted a 3.713 GPA in 2018-19 and a 3.767 GPA in 2019-20, coming in at No. 3 both seasons.

RELEASE: WBCA Announces 2020-21 Academic Top 25 Honor Rolls

"Earning one of the nation's top GPAs requires much more than just intelligence," said RMU head coach Charlie Buscaglia. "It also requires a great deal of sacrifice and a very strong work ethic. Due to the pandemic, this year's GPA was also earned with some major adjustments to our normal routines. I'm very pleased with how we handled all the adversity of the change in learning environment. This was a new experience for everyone, and our goal was to keep our priorities in order."

"Congratulations to each of the teams recognized in the 2020-21 WBCA Academic Top 25," said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew in the press release. "Their head coaches are to be commended for fostering an environment of excellence for their student-athletes both on the court and, more importantly, in the classroom; particularly with the additional stress this season caused by the uncertainty resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic."

Maine (3.900) and Horizon League colleague Youngstown State (3.874) were the two teams that finished ahead of the Colonials, with Marist (3.770) and North Dakota (3.766) rounding out the top five. RMU and YSU were the only two Horizon League schools ranked inside the Top 25.

"I'd like to thank everyone involved in our student-athletes' daily academic success," added Buscaglia. "A special thanks goes to (Assistant) Coach (Asami) Morita for her tireless academic advising to our team. She has set a great example for our student-athletes to follow with her work ethic. I also would like to thank (Assistant Athletic Director) Nicole Law for all her hard work and dedicated service to our program."

Across the five levels (Division I, II, III, NAIA, Two-Year College) that the WBCA ranks, RMU is joined by only Division II Lubbock Christian University among programs that have been ranked inside the top four of their respective divisions for five seasons running.

RMU has won 20 or more games in five of the last six seasons, and is coming off a 2020-21 campaign that saw it earn a pair of victories over Horizon League regular-season and tournament champion Wright State. The Colonials welcome eight new players into the fold for 2021-22, and return their top three scorers in Nina Augustin, Esther Castedo, and Horizon League All-Freshman Team selection Sol Castro.

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