April 24, 2008

NORMAL, Ill. - The NCAA released a list of teams Thursday that ranked in the top-10 percent nationally in each sport based on Academic Progress Rates (APR), and the Illinois State women's basketball program ranked among those top-tier teams.

"It is a testament to the student-athletes, coaches and staff surrounding the women's basketball program," said Dr. Sheahon Zenger, ISU's director of athletics. "Not only has this program been successful in the classroom, but it has participated in postseason play in three of the last four seasons and won both the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season and tournament championships this season. We are proud of this accomplishment, and it is just exemplary."

The APR rating provides a real-time snapshot of an institution's current academic success. In addition to releasing the list of the nation's elite, the NCAA also released a list of programs that will face penalties due to an APR score that falls below a predetermined threshold. Illinois State did not incur any penalties from the national organization in all of its 19 intercollegiate athletics programs.

High-performing teams receiving awards posted APR scores ranging from 965 to a perfect 1,000, according to NCAA President Myles Brand.

"Congratulations to these teams and their student-athletes for success in the classroom," said Brand. "They are setting a great example for their peers and future student-athletes, as well."

The Redbird women's basketball team registered a multi-year APR score of 988.