Moon Township, Pa. – The RMU women's basketball program was honored for its work in the classroom Tuesday, earning the top spot in the 2022-23 Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll for NCAA Division I. The Colonials posted a team grade point average (GPA) of 3.807 during the 2022-23 academic year to earn the top honor for the first time in program history.
"Today is a very special day for RMU women's basketball," RMU head coach
Charlie Buscaglia said. "We've come so close for so many years in a row, and now to finally have our student-athletes achieve this ranking, it just means so much. In the past when we came so close, my message has always been to just keep their heads up, keep trying their best, keep knocking on the door and no matter what, we will always be proud of the results. Well, we just kept knocking on the door, and the door finally opened."
RMU has finished in the top four in NCAA Division I for team GPA in each of the last seven seasons, culminating in the top mark in 2022-23. The unprecedented run began in 2016-17 when the Colonials finished second with a 3.726 team GPA. RMU finished fourth a year later (3.748) and also finished third in 2018-19 (3.767), 2019-20 (3.767) and 2020-21 (3.824). Last season the Colonials finished at No. 2 with a team GPA of 3.762.
RELATED: WBCA Announces 2022-23 Academic Top 25 Team Honor Rolls (8/1/23)
Rounding out the top five programs in NCAA Division I and trailing the Colonials were UAlbany (3.791), Northern Illinois (3.778), North Florida (3.769) and Maine (3.766). Earning the top mark in NCAA Division II was Upper Iowa (3.894), while Wartburg (3.872) claimed the top spot for NCAA Division III.
"This academic national title was truly earned, and we're very excited to soon have the student-athletes back on campus to celebrate all the hard work that went into achieving this honor," Buscaglia said. "I'd like to send a special thanks to my assistant coaches as well as our academic advisor,
Nicole Law. I appreciate all the assistance in the efforts to help develop our student-athletes on a daily basis. Your efforts mean so much to the program."
The WBCA Academic Top 25 recognizes NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA and two-year college women's basketball programs across the country that carry the highest combined GPAs inclusive of all student-athletes on their rosters for the entire season. The 2022-23 season marks the 28th year the WBCA has compiled the honor rolls.
"The WBCA is pleased to recognize those women's basketball programs that have committed themselves to excellence on the court and in the classroom," WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew said. "The 119 teams we honor this year strive to achieve all-around success and we commend their efforts."
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