In the classroom, the squad was also very successful.
In an announcement released by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), the Ferris State women's basketball program recorded the nation's highest grade point average at the NCAA Division II level during the 1999-2000 campaign.
The WBCA recognized the nation's highest NCAA Division I, II, III, junior/community colleges and NAIA programs based upon nominations submitted by WBCA-member coaches. Coach Tracey Fisk and her Ferris State squad topped the Division II Academic Top-25 Team Honor Roll list with an overall GPA of 3.534. Central Missouri State finished second with a GPA of 3.50 and Nebraska-Kearney was third at 3.494. Among the top 25 teams, Ferris State was the only Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) school represented on the list.
"I'm ecstatic and very proud of each of the players off of last year's team," Fisk said. "They set a goal at the beginning of the season to achieve a 3.4 GPA as a team and they exceeded that goal. We had such a variety of majors and they really did an excellent job of getting their work done."
Based out of Georgia, the WBCA has over 4,500 members and was conceived as a vehicle through which members could be recognized and honored for their efforts and achievements. The WBCA awards program remains a well-known benefit of WBCA membership.
Founded in 1981, the WBCA promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport. The organization also fosters and promotes the development of the game as an amateur sport for both women and girls at all levels.
While the entire Bulldog team had stellar GPA's, several players were also honored individually last season for their accomplishments in-the-classroom. Departed senior Carrie Roys, junior Tianna Kirkland and sophomore Debbie Killips each made the GLIAC All-Academic Team.
Although three starters were lost to graduation, Ferris State returns seven members of last year's team. The Bulldogs will tip-off the 2000-01 campaign on Nov. 18 against Missouri-St. Louis at Jim Wink Arena.