July 16, 2008

ST. BONAVENTURE, N.Y. - For the fifth time in the last six academic years, the St. Bonaventure women's basketball team has earned a spot on the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Academic Team Honor Roll as the Bonnies ranked 15th among Division I institutions with a cumulative team grade point average of 3.352.

The Bonnies consistency among the top 25 academic teams in the nation began following the 2002-03 campaign when the Brown and White entered the rankings at #24 and was highlighted last year as St. Bonaventure earned its highest academic ranking in school history with a third overall finish in 2006-07.

St. Bonaventure was the only school to qualify for the 2007-08 honor roll from the Atlantic 10 Conference.

Junior Katelyn Murray set the tone for the Bonnies in the classroom as the 5-9 guard became the second player in school history to earn Academic All-America honors by ESPN the Magazine. The Harrisburg, Pa. product posted a career-high 10.4 points per game on the floor while carrying a 4.0 grade point average in biology. Murray was also named to the A-10 Academic All-Conference team.

Furthermore, six members of the 2007-08 squad received a spot on the fall and spring A-10 Commissioner's Honor Roll, which recognizes student-athletes with a 3.5 grade point average or higher.

Under the direction of head coach Jim Crowley, the Brown and White are in the midst of their best two-year span in program history with 34 combined victories and winning seasons in each of the past two years. The Bonnies captured a Division I school-record 18 victories in 2007-08, highlighted by a February win over nationally ranked George Washington on Bob Lanier Court at the Reilly Center.

Members of the 2007-08 St. Bonaventure women's basketball team include Andrea Doneth, Ashley Edwards, Priscilla Edwards, Megan Ellis, Cara Gustafson, Armelia Horton, Amanda Johnson, Tiara Johnson, Maripier Malo, Dana Mitchell, Murray, Erica Schiefen and Iben Soltau.

2007-08 WBCA Academic Top 25
1. South Dakota State University 3.669
2. Kansas State University 3.652
3. Indiana State University 3.591
4. Eastern Washington University 3.584
5. Western Carolina University 3.543
6. University of Northern Iowa 3.535
7. Eastern Illinois University 3.475
8. Manhattan College 3.430
9. Utah Valley State College 3.419
10. University of Northern Colorado 3.414
11. Montana State University - Bozeman 3.392
12. Southern Illinois University (Carbondale) 3.371
13. Niagara University 3.361
14. Liberty University 3.354
15. St. Bonaventure University 3.352
16. University of Maine 3.345
17. American University 3.342
T18. Canisius College 3.326
T18. North Dakota State University 3.326
20. Oakland University 3.312
21. Dartmouth College 3.311
22. University of New Mexico 3.308
23. Wichita State University 3.289
24. Valparaiso University 3.286
25. Columbia University 3.278