July 9, 2009
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The New Mexico women’s basketball team ranked 10th nationally in the Academic Top 25 poll released by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) today. The Lobos finished the year with a 3.414 grade point average (GPA) and crack the Top 10 for the first time since the 2005-06 season. New Mexico was the only Mountain West Conference school ranked in the Top 25. The Lobos have ranked in the WBCA’s Academic Top 25 four of the last five years.
“Congratulations to the student-athletes on putting forth a great effort,” said Lobo head coach Don Flanagan. “We had a tough road schedule during the spring semester and they got the job done in the classroom. Their desire and determination showed and this is a great honor for them.”
Sophomore Lauren Taylor and junior Amanda Best both had over a 4.0 GPA while eight Lobos had over a 3.0 GPA during the year. The Lobos’ 3.414 GPA is the second highest during the Don Flanagan era. New Mexico ranked 22nd last year with a 3.308 GPA and jumped 12 spots to 10th this year.
Below is the complete WBCA Academic Top 25.
| Rank | School | Head Coach | Team GPA |
| 1 | Indiana State | Jim Wiedie | 3.645 |
| 2 | North Dakota | Gene Roebuck | 3.580 |
| 3 | South Dakota State | Aaron Johnston | 3.571 |
| 4 | Montana State | Tricia Binford | 3.501 |
| 5 | Bowling Green | Curt Miller | 3.3.470 |
| 6 | Northern Iowa | Tanya Warren | 3.3.437 |
| 7 | Manhattan College | Myndi Hill | 3.432 |
| 8 | Western Carolina | Kellie Harper | 3.428 |
| 9 | Eastern Washington | Wendy Schuller | 3.422 |
10New MexicoDon Flanagan3.41411DePaulDoug Bruno3.40212Utah ValleyCathy Nixon3.39013Kansas StateDeb Patterson3.37414Wichita StateJody Adams3.36115LehighSusan Troyan3.356T16St. BonaventureJim Crowley3.353T16CornellDayna Smith3.35318VillanovaHarry Perretta3.34619EvansvilleMisty Murphy3.33620OaklandBeckie Francis3.323T21Charleston SouthernJulie Goodenough3.320T21ColumbiaPaul Nixon3.32023Wisconsin-Green BayMatthew Bollant3.31724South DakotaRyun Williams3.31125HartfordJennifer Rizzotti3.308