Women's Basketball Team Posts Nation's Third-Best GPA in 2015-16

by YSU

Wednesday, Aug 3, 2016 4:26 pm

The Youngstown State women's basketball team posted the third-best grade-point average in the country during the 2015-16 academic year and appears on the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Academic Top 25 for the fifth time in the last six years.

The Penguins posted a team GPA of 3.639 during the academic year, which trailed only St. Francis (N.Y.) and South Dakota at the Division I level. The third-place ranking is the best in school history, topping sixth place in 2011-12, 17th in both 2010-11 and 2012-13 and 22nd last year.

Youngstown State is one of just eight programs to appear in the WBCA Academic Top 25 in five of the last six years. Among that group, only YSU and DePaul have played in a postseason tournament in each of the past two seasons.

"I can't tell you how proud I am of this group for excelling like they have in the classroom," head coach John Barnes said. "To be able to play in the postseason in each of the past two years and still have one of the top GPA's in the nation is a huge testament to the type of student-athletes we have. I want to give a big thanks to our academic advisers, professors, coaching staff and players for all of the hard work they have put in to help us with this achievement. It's a fantastic honor and definitely something to be celebrated."

Youngstown State joins fellow Horizon League member Green Bay (13th), on the prestigious academic top 25 list, and Bowling Green was the only other school in Ohio.

"Congratulations to each of the teams recognized in the 2015-16 WBCA Academic Top 25," said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew. "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."

All 12 members of the team had a GPA of at least a 3.4 in the fall semester, and each Penguin achieved at least a 3.1 in the spring. Melinda Trimmer and Jill Blacksten both had a 4.0 in both semesters.

On the court, Youngstown State posted a 21-13 record for its third 20-win season in the last four years. The Penguins also qualified for the WBI postseason tournament and advanced to the semifinals.