Central ranks among women’s basketball academic leCentral ranks among women’s basketball academic leaders
PELLA (CC) — Central College ranks 20th on the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Division III Team Honor Roll.
The Dutch compiled a team grade point average of 3.456 under coach Jerry Nikkel for the 2010-11 academic year. Case Western Reserve (Ohio) led Division III at 3.609. Iowa Conference rival Simpson tied for ninth at 3.519 while Coe is 17th at 3.464.
It’s the fifth time Central has received the WBCA honor and the first time since 2000, when the Dutch were second in the U.S.
Fourteen of the squad’s 15 players compiled GPAs of 3.0 or above for the year, led by junior AJ Baker who posted a 3.885 mark. Seven players were above 3.40.
Four Dutch players were earlier named to the Academic All-Iowa Conference team, based on cumulative GPAs: Baker, exercise science, 3.74; junior Melanie Hopkins, sociology/Spanish, 3.81; junior Sarah Paulson, exercise science, 3.70; and senior Jordan Waddell, actuarial science/economics, 3.56.
The Dutch open the 2011-12 campaign under new coach Mike Jacobsma Nov. 15 at Bethany Lutheran (Minn.).
