YSU Women's basketball post nation's top GPA in 2023-24 season
The Penguins team GPA was 3.868
Already rich with a history of academic success, the Youngstown State women's basketball program reached a new pinnacle by achieving the highest grade-point average in the country during the 2023-24 season.
The Women's Basketball Coaches Association released its annual Academic Top 25 on Wednesday, and the Penguins led all 360 Division I programs with a 3.868 GPA during the 2023-24 academic year. This marks the 13th time in the last 14 seasons that Youngstown State has ranked among the top 25 programs in the nation in GPA, and it is the first time the Penguins have been at the top of the list.
"Congratulations to the 2023-24 student-athletes, staff and academic staff!" said current YSU head women's basketball coach Melissa Jackson. "YSU Women's Basketball has had a long-standing tradition of academic excellence, and earning the top spot is an incredible achievement for the program. I commend the young women for all their hard work. This honor represents a strong commitment to academics as well as the unbelievable support that is in place here at YSU."
The Penguins registered a team GPA of 3.769 GPA during the fall, and they rose to an even more impressive mark of 3.943 in the spring. In the fall, seven student-athletes finished with a 4.0, and 12 team members were at 3.5 or higher. All 14 Penguins posted a GPA of at least 3.75 in the spring semester, and 11 individuals earned straight A's. Returners Abby Liber, Malia Magestro and Bella Samz joined seniors Mady Aulbach, Dena Jarrells, Lindsey Linard and Emily Saunders in earning a 4.0 in both semesters. The 2023-24 team was led by a group of six fifth-year seniors who each earned their degrees and Interim Head Coach John Nicolais.
No other program in the country can match Youngstown State's consistency of being on the WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll 13 times in the last 14 years. Starting with the 2010-11 campaign, YSU has earned a spot in every season except 2013-14. This is the 10th straight season that the Penguins have been on the list, and they have been among the top 10 six times in the past decade.
Previously, the Penguins were second in 2019-20 and 2020-21, third in 2015-16, sixth in 2011-12, seventh in 2018-19, 10th in 2017-18, 12th in 2022-23, 16th in 2021-22, 17th in both 2010-11 and 2012-13, 22nd in 2014-15 and 24th in 2016-17.
Youngstown State narrowly edged Western Illinois for the top position in 2023-24 by 0.002 as the Leathernecks finished with a 3.866 GPA. Green Bay (sixth) was the only other Horizon League school in the top 25, and Toledo (10th) was the only other program in Ohio on the list.
