Hoops Among Top-25 Academic Teams

NORMAN, Okla. -- The Oklahoma women's basketball team was named to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) 2005-2006 Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll. The award recognizes Division I teams that have the highest grade point averages (GPA) for the 2005-2006 season based upon nominations submitted by WBCA-member coaches.

The Sooners ranked No. 19 with a combined team GPA of 3.315. It marks the fifth team (1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 & 2003) under Sherri Coale's guidance to earn the prestigious honor. OU was one of the four 2006 NCAA Tournament teams among the top 25.

The academic success is nothing new to the Sooner program. OU has achieved a combined team GPA of 3.0 or better in every semester (20) under head coach Sherri Coale. OU has also accumulated 63 Academic All-Big 12 honors, eight Academic All-District honors and four Academic All-America Team members during Coale's 10 seasons in Norman.

“I'm proud of our players' commitment to excellence both on and off the court," Coale said.

“Our student-athletes understand that they won't play basketball forever and they value the educational experience afforded them at the University of Oklahoma. But I hope it's even more than that. I hope it is a reflection of their sincere pursuit of excellence in all endeavors -- that they seek to do things as well as they can be done because that is simply the right thing to do. Our team has a sincerity of purpose that is contagious, and that's even more rewarding to be a part of than the wins.”

A Big 12-best seven OU players made the 2006 Academic All-Big 12 Teams. Those honored were Laura Andrews, Erin Higgins, Kendra Moore, Beky Preston, Leah Rush, Krista Sanchez and Chelsi Welch.

Higgins (first team), Rush (second team) and Welch (second team) went on to earn CoSIDA Academic All-District VI honors.

Division I - WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll
1. South Dakota State - 3.730
2. Indiana State University - 3.612
3. Eastern Washington University - 3.474
4. Valparaiso University - 3.468
5. Montana State - Bozeman - 3.459
6. University of New Mexico - 3.424
7. Oakland University - 3.402
8. University of Northern Iowa - 3.399
9. Northern Arizona University - 3.364
10. Univ. of Wisconsin - Green Bay - 3.362
11. DePaul University - 3.361
12. Canisius College - 3.344
13. University of Denver - 3.343
T14. Lehigh University - 3.338
T14. Liberty University - 3.338
16. University of Central Florida - 3.335
17. Texas A&M - Corpus - 3.330
18. Dartmouth College - 3.323
19. University of Oklahoma - 3.315
20. Saint Bonaventure University - 3.307
21. Long Island University - 3.301
22. Villanova University - 3.300
23. University of Florida - 3.299
T24. Bradley University - 3.298
T24. Fairleigh Dickinson University - 3.298

University of Oklahoma Athletics

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