Warrensburg, Mo. (Sept. 7, 2000) -- The Central Missouri State University basketball Jennies had the second-highest team grade-point average on the 2000 Academic Top-25 Team Honor Roll for NCAA Division II schools announced by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association on Wednesday. The list was based upon nominations submitted by WBCA-member coaches.

The Jennies of Head Coach Scott Ballard compiled a 3.50 cumulative team GPA for the 1999-2000 campaign and were a close second on the honor roll behind Ferris State University, which led the list with a 3.534 cumulative GPA. Ten of the Jennies' 12 players on last season's roster had a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00, including three who completed the school year with a perfect 4.00 cumulative GPA.

Last year's Jennies' squad included juniors Marlies Ozias (G-F, Centerview, Mo., Crest Ridge H.S.), Kelly Sutton (F, St. Louis, Mo., Parkway South H.S./University of Evansville) and Blanche Tucker [F, Fort Worth, Texas, Brewer H.S./Odessa (Texas) College], sophomores Nicole Cassmeyer (C, Jefferson City, Mo., Blair Oaks H.S.), Molly Knobbe (G, Cimarron, Kan., CHS), Ashley Lawrence (F, Farmington, Ark., FHS), Lori Nichols (G, Nevada, Mo., NHS) and Katie Vaske (C, Bancroft, Iowa, Algona Bishop Garrigan H.S.), and freshmen Mandy Allen [F, High Point, Mo., Jefferson City (Mo.) H.S.], Stacy Butterworth (F, Monett, Mo., MHS), Callie Newton (F-C, Republic, Mo., RHS) and Carlonda Pettiford (G, Indianapolis, Ind., Lawrence Central H.S.).

The WBCA compiles similar lists annually for NCAA Divisions I and III, as well as NAIA schools and junior/community colleges.