The women's basketball team spent all last season trying to squeeze its way into the Top 25, a goal that went unreached.
Now, though, the team has reached the Top 25 of a different sort. For the first time in its history, the women's team was named to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Academic Honor Roll.
"It would be a great honor for any program, but since it is our first time, it's extra special," sophomore guard/forward Kate Endress said.
Ball State was 22nd on the list which was chosen from more than 300 schools.
"This is an outstanding honor for our program," head coach Tracy Roller said. "I am extremely proud of this award, because it shows the type of players we have attracted to our program."
The annual WBCA award recognizes the nation's highest team grade point averages for the 2001-02 season. Ball State made the list with a 3.274 GPA. Eight players finished with a GPA of 3.00 or higher.
Endress topped the team with a 3.87 GPA in an entrepreneurship major. Junior transfer Leah Boehme wasn't too far behind with a 3.71 in psychology.
"You just have to stay ahead of (the academics)," said Endress, who also made the Mid-American Conference All-Freshman team last season. "Because once you fall behind it's hard to catch up."
The Cardinal team not only got things done in the classroom last season, but it also excelled on the court. The women ended the season with an all-time best record of 24-8.
The team also won a Mid-American Conference West Division title and shared the league crown. In postseason play, Ball State advanced to the second round of the Women's National Invitational Tournament.
Two other MAC schools made the list. Toledo was second and Miami was 25th. Wyoming topped the list with a 3.486 GPA.
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