ATLANTA – Eastern Illinois women's basketball had great success on the court this past season setting a school record for consecutive conference wins to open a season. The Panthers were also successful off the court as they finished the season ranked in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Academic Top 25.
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The Panthers landed in this year's national Top 25 ranking at No. 24 as they held a 3.569 team GPA for the academic year. It marked the third straight season the Panthers have been nationally ranked in the Top 25 landing as high as No. 6 in the national poll in 2020-21.
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It marked the eighth time since the 2006-07 season that EIU has finished the year ranked in the WBCA Academic Top 25.
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EIU is the only OVC school ranked in this year's Academic Top 25 with new OVC member Western Illinois also ranked after playing last season in The Summit League.
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On the court the Panthers were 21-8 finishing second in the OVC regular season standings.Â
NCAA Division I
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| Rank |
Institution |
Head Coach |
GPA |
| 1 |
Robert Morris University |
Charlie Buscaglia |
3.807 |
| 2 |
University at Albany |
Colleen Mullen |
3.791 |
| 3 |
Northern Illinois University |
Lisa Carlsen |
3.778 |
| 4 |
University of North Florida |
Erika Lambert |
3.769 |
| 5 |
University of Maine |
Amy Vachon |
3.766 |
| 6 |
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay |
Kevin Borseth |
3.758 |
| 7 |
South Dakota State University |
Aaron Johnston |
3.745 |
| T8 |
Lipscomb University |
Lauren Sumski |
3.714 |
| T8 |
University of Northern Iowa |
Tanya Warren |
3.714 |
| 10 |
Boise State University |
Gordy Presnell |
3.702 |
| 11 |
Houston Christian University |
Donna Finnie |
3.701 |
| 12 |
Youngstown State University |
John Barnes |
3.695 |
| 13 |
Belmont University |
Bart Brooks |
3.676 |
| 14 |
Western Illinois University |
JD Gravina |
3.659 |
| 15 |
Marist College |
Brian Giorgis |
3.652 |
| 16 |
Drake University |
Allison Pohlman |
3.628 |
| 17 |
University of Portland |
Michael Meek |
3.605 |
| 18 |
Campbell University |
Ronny Fisher |
3.597 |
| 19 |
Purdue University Fort Wayne |
Maria Marchesano |
3.596 |
| 20 |
University of Washington |
Tina Langley |
3.585 |
| 21 |
Manhattan College |
Heather Vulin |
3.576 |
| 22 |
Kent State University |
Todd Starkey |
3.575 |
| 23 |
University of Missouri |
Robin Pingeton |
3.571 |
| 24 |
Eastern Illinois University |
Matt Bollant |
3.569 |
| 25 |
Columbia University |
Megan Griffith |
3.566 |
