ATLANTA, Ga. – Chalk up another honor for coach Marty Rowe and his Lee University women’s basketball team. Not only were the 2005-06 Lady Flames ranked the seventh best club on the hardwood in the NAIA, they were recently honored as being one of the nation’s best academic squads.

The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced its 2005-2006 Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll for NCAA Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, NAIA and Junior College/Community College on July 17. The awards recognize teams throughout the nation that have the highest grade point averages (GPA) for the 2005-2006 season based upon nominations submitted by WBCA-member coaches.

Coach Rowe stated, “We are extremely proud of our team and the commitment they have shown to their academics. We take pride in the fact that our players choose to excel not only on the court but in the classroom as well. We will continue to strive to be a Top 10 team not only on the basketball court but also in the classroom.”

Dana College (Blair, Neb.) topped the NAIA listings with a 3.585 GPA. South Dakota State was best in NCAA Division I, and Nebraska-Kearney was the academic leader in NCAA Division II. Colorado College rounded out the elite field with a first-place finish in NCAA Division III.

The Lady Flames, ranked 21^st, were paced by NAIA Academic All-Americans Jeannie Vorbeck, Leah Green, Jessica Lucas and Jan Dodson. Coach Rowe also had seven players named to the Southern States Athletic Conference All-Academic squad. Lee was the only SSAC team ranked in the top 25 by the WBCA. 

The WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll for NAIA is as follows: