Oct. 8, 2003

The Duquesne University women's basketball team has been recognized by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) for the fifth time in the past seven year on its Top-25 Academic Team Honor Roll. The WBCA Team Honor Roll recognizes the nation's highest NCAA team grade point averages in all five divisions of competition. The 2002-03 WBCA Academic Top-25 Division I teams were announced today by the national office.

Head Coach Dan Durkin's Duquesne squad ranks 20th with its combined team grade point average of 3.270 for the past academic year. In all, twelve Dukes posted at least a 3.21 or better last year.

The Dukes were successful on the court as well posting a 15-14 record. Beth Friday, a 2003 graduate, was named to the Atlantic 10 Academic All-Conference team and as the League's Academic Student-Athlete of the Year. She was also named a National third team Verizon Academic All-America pick. Friday and junior Candace Futrell were both named to the All-Conference squad.

The WBCA Top-25 Academic Team Awards program began in 1996 and is based on nominations submitted by WBCA-member coaches. The teams are announced each fall following the previous academic year.

Founded in 1981, the WBCA promotes women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport of women's basketball and to foster and promote the development of the game in all of its aspects as an amateur sport for women and girls.

Top 25 2002-03 WBCA Division I Academic Teams

1.  Indiana State           3.6392.  Kansas State             3.4903.  Eastern Washington  3.4494.  Wisconsin-Milwaukee     3.4295.  Belmont              3.4236.  Lehigh           3.4157.  Robert Morris            3.4058.  Tennessee-Martin    3.3979.  Valparaiso           3.39410. Wyoming              3.38311. Oakland              3.38012. Weber State              3.37413. Quinnipiac           3.35514. Northern Iowa            3.34115. Northern Illinois   3.32116. Boise State              3.315    Creighton            3.31518. Nevada           3.28319. Sacred Heart             3.27820. DUQUESNE             3.27021. Columbia             3.26322. Central Michigan    3.25923. Saint Francis            3.24924. St. Bonaventure     3.23725. Alabama              3.228
Duquesne's All-Time WBCA Academic Rank *2003    20th2000    10th1999    First1998    First1997    Third* WBCA Academic Teams program began in 1996