WINONA, Minn. — The Saint Mary's University women's basketball team was among those to receive academic accolades when the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced its Academic Honor Rolls and Special Mention recipients on Wednesday.
 
The WBCA Academic Top 25 recognizes NCAA Division I, II and III, NAIA and two-year college women's basketball teams across the nation that carry the highest combined GPAs inclusive of all student-athletes on their rosters for the entire season. The 2021-22 season is the 27th in which the WBCA has compiled the honor rolls.
 
This year's announcement also marks the first year in which all teams which reported a minimum 3.0 GPA were recognized for their academic accomplishment.
 
The Cardinals closed out the 2021-22 season boasting a cumulative 3.50 GPA in earning Special Mention honors.
 
The WBCA announcement is just the latest academic honors for the Cardinals, who had five players — Jada Biermeier (Eau Claire, Wis.), Katelyn Cruze (Litchfield, Minn.), Valerie Higgins (Sioux Falls, S.D.), Brooklyn Paulson (Holmen, Wis.), and Ashley Streveler (Colby, Wis.) — named Academic All-MIAC in late June.