By Jonathan Caudle, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech women's basketball recorded a significant milestone at the completion of the 2020 spring semester, recording the program's highest cumulative grade-point average ever, in addition to setting a new program milestone with the entire Golden Eagle roster being named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll.
"In our program, we talk about responding positively in all situations but especially when adversity hits. I am extremely proud of our team's response as well as their commitment to academic success during this unprecedented time."
Under the advisement of the Assistant Athletics Director for Academics and Student-Athlete Welfare, Dr. Leveda Dexter, the Golden Eagles' scholastic accomplishments have steadily grown over recent years.
The 15 members of the women's basketball team compiled their highest cumulative GPA ever recorded, posting a 3.753 cumulative GPA and marking the program's fourth-straight semester achieving a combined GPA above 3.0. In addition, six Golden Eagles earned a perfect 4.0 following the spring 2020 semester.
On May 18, the NCAA released its multi-year Academic Progress Rate (APR), an annual report from the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Tech women's basketball earned a 991, tying for the best mark in the OVC.
The Golden Eagles capitalized on this unprecedented time to not only produce the program's highest cumulative GPA, but also having all 16 student-athletes earn Athletic Director's Honor Roll accolades following the spring semester. The Golden Eagles remarkable spring semester marks the first time in program history that the entire roster, all 16 golden eagle student-athletes, was named to the Athletic Director's Honor Roll since its inception following spring 1989.
"Words do little to express our appreciation for the job that Leveda Dexter and her staff did to ensure our players put themselves in a position to finish the semester as well as they did. The amount of time, love, and care Leveda poured into all of our student-athletes is hard to describe, and it is what sets her and her entire office apart. The servant leadership they display on a daily basis is truly on an elite level."
Tech finished the 2019-20 season with its second-straight winning season with a 17-13 overall record, which included an 11-game winning streak, the longest winning streak for the program since the 2000-01 season. The team also recorded double-digit conference wins for consecutive years with 10 victories, a feat that has not been accomplished since the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons.
During the spring semester, the Golden Eagles balanced their schoolwork while competing in 19 total contests, which included eight-straight OVC victories to open conference play and securing the program's second-straight OVC postseason berth.
Following the Golden Eagle's season, the Golden Eagles doubled-down on their academic endeavors, working through an unprecedented time as Tech switched from on-campus classes to online instruction due to the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic.
"We have a strong culture in place of practicing championship habits in all we do. The academic success is a credit to the commitment and character of our players as well as their relentless effort to be the best version of themselves in all areas of their lives."
A major cornerstone of Tech's women's basketball program is its S.O.A.R culture that the student-athletes, coaches, and staff embrace both on the court and in the classroom. S.O.A.R stands for serving others, owning it, acquiring knowledge, and responding positively in all aspects of their everyday life.
Photo by Jim Dillon
