Women's basketball posts nation's fifth-best GPA

ATLANTA – After one of the most successful seasons in program history on the court, the Simpson women's basketball team proved it can hold its own in the classroom as well. 

The Storm posted the nation's fifth-best GPA while earning a spot on the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Division III Academic Team Honor Roll for the sixth year in a row.

Members of the varsity team recorded a combined 3.559 GPA, the highest by a Simpson team since the WBCA began recognizing team academic performance in 1997-98. The No. 5 ranking is Simpson's highest, topping four previous appearances at No. 7. Simpson earned a place in the top-10 for the sixth year in a row, leading the Iowa Conference in each of those seasons.

Simpson went 27-3 in 2012-13, tying the school record for wins in a season while winning the Iowa Conference Championship for the sixth season in a row and going to the NCAA Tournament for the ninth consecutive season. Brian Niemuth's squad advanced to the Sweet 16 round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Storm are 1 of 2 NCAA Tournament teams in the top five. The other is Westminster (Mo.), which Simpson beat 91-58 in the first round.

Three members of the team earned a place on the Iowa Conference All-Academic Team. Kelsie Reeves (Sr., Des Moines, Iowa) Morgan Terpstra (Jr., Cedar Rapids, Iowa) and Kate Nielsen (Sr., Urbandale, Iowa) all met the criteria of a 3.5 cumulative GPA. Nielsen – the Iowa Conference MVP and a WBCA National Player of the Year Finalist – earned Capital One Academic All-America® First Team honors.

Simpson in the WBCA Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll (since 2003-04)