ATLANTA, Ga.- The 2025-26 Women's Basketball team earned special mention for their academic performance on the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Division II Top 25 Taem Academic Honor Roll.
The WBCA Academic Top 25 recognizes college women's basketball teams across the nation in their respective divisions that carry the highest combined GPAs inclusive of all student-athletes on their rosters for the entire season. A team must have a combined GPA of 3.0 or better and be nominated by its head coach who must be a member of the WBCA to be recognized. The 2025-26 season is the 31st in which the WBCA has compiled the honor rolls.
Newman posted a team GPA of 3.408 for the 25-26 academic year, earning themselves a special mention. The Jets are one of three MIAA Women's Basketball teams (FHSU, UCM) to earn a spot on special mention or the Top 25 Team Academic Honor Roll.
NCAA Division II Top 25 and Special Mentions:
|
Rank |
Institution |
Head Coach |
GPA |
| 1 |
Mercy |
Scott Lagas |
3.853 |
| 2 |
Fla. Southern |
Megan Dzikas |
3.849 |
| 3 |
Embry-Riddle (FL) |
Lisa Wilson |
3.841 |
| 4 |
Northwestern Okla. |
Tasha Diesselhorst |
3.826 |
| 5 |
East Stroudsburg |
Liz Flooks |
3.825 |
| 6 |
Southwest Minn. St. |
Tom Webb |
3.811 |
| 7 |
Colorado Mesa |
Taylor Wagner |
3.797 |
| 8 |
Goldey-Beacom |
Bethann Burke |
3.790 |
| 9 |
Fort Hays St. |
Talia Kahrs |
3.787 |
| 10 |
Harding |
Tim Kirby |
3.776 |
| 11 |
Lubbock Christian |
Steve Gomez |
3.775 |
| 12 |
Northwood |
Autumn Hunter |
3.772 |
| 13 |
Maryville |
Brita Hand |
3.770 |
| 14 |
Southern N.H. |
Karen Pinkos |
3.759 |
| 15 |
MSU Moorhead |
Karla Nelson |
3.757 |
| 16 |
Gannon |
Cleve Wright |
3.755 |
| T17 |
Northern Mich. |
Casey Thousand |
3.752 |
| T17 |
Point Loma |
Charity Elliott |
3.752 |
| 19 |
Upper Iowa |
Justin Maass |
3.740 |
| 20 |
Sioux Falls |
Travis Traphagen |
3.732 |
| 21 |
Northern St. |
Paula Krueger |
3.730 |
| 22 |
Ouachita Baptist |
Nick Long |
3.729 |
| 23 |
St. Cloud St. |
Lori Fish |
3.726 |
| 24 |
McKendree |
Kari Kerkhoff |
3.724 |
| 25 |
Malone |
Selana Ickes |
3.716 |
Special Mention: Central Mo., Dave Slifer, 3.710; Post, Courtney Burns, 3.705; Texas Woman's, Beth Jillson, 3.703; Lee, Marty Rowe, 3.686; Mont. St. Billings, Kevin Woodin, 3.683; Northwest Mo. St., Austin Meyer, 3.680; Tampa, Tom Jessee, 3.678; Barry, Allison Bustamante, 3.674; Kutztown, Janet Malouf, 3.673; Cal Poly Pomona, Danelle Bishop, 3.669; Georgian Court, Jazz Perazic, 3.667; Ferris St., Kurt Westendorp, 3.661; Eckerd, Paul Honsinger, 3.661; Rockhurst, Larry Park, 3.655; Chaminade, J. Travis Brewster, 3.653; Ill. Springfield, Olivia Birt, 3.651; Carson-Newman, Mike Mincey, 3.643; Ashland, Kari Pickens, 3.640; UVA Wise, Jamie Cluesman, 3.638; Davenport, Shonda Sanders, 3.628; Winona St., Ana Wurtz, 3.628; Menlo, Shannon Spataro, 3.617; Truman St., Theo Dean, 3.616; Tex. A&M-Kingsville, Michael Madrid, 3.615; Black Hills St., Kelly Kruger, 3.597; Wis.-Parkside, Jen Conely, 3.596; West Liberty, Kyle Cooper, 3.591; Fairmont St., Stephanie Anderson, 3.587; Chestnut Hill, Megan Fox, 3.585; Pace, Carrie Seymour, 3.579; Saginaw Valley, Jenny Pruett, 3.577; D'Youville, Kelly Broderick, 3.572; Drury, Kaci Bailey, 3.568; St. Mary's (TX), Valerie Huizar, 3.551; Edinboro, Callie Wheeler, 3.549; USC Aiken, Brittany Batts, 3.546; Bentley, Carolyn White, 3.532; Wayne St. (MI), Carrie Lohr, 3.528; Bridgeport, James Howard, 3.521; Minnesota St., Emilee Thiesse, 3.513; Mary, Rick Neumann, 3.510; Shepherd, Julie Kaufman, 3.506; Cal St. East Bay, Jenny Thigpin, 3.482; Okla. Baptist, Bo Overton, 3.461; Kentucky St., Amani Williams, 3.460; Wingate, Ann Hancock, 3.422; Newman, Amy Briggs, 3.408; Mount Olive, Joey Higginbotham, 3.407; UC Merced, Kellie Bernard, 3.404; Assumption, Kerry Phayre, 3.403; Cal St. Monterey Bay, Sarah Hopkins-Chery, 3.363; Hillsdale, Brianna Brennan, 3.329; Cal State LA, Torino Johnson, 3.308; Union, Mark Campbell, 3.269; Emory & Henry, Jaclyn Dickens, 3.255; Cal St. San Marcos, Jana Pearson, 3.191; Valdosta St., Chandler Merkerson, 3.189; Augusta, Celeste Stewart, 3.039.
