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The ������Ƶ University 2009-10 women’s basketball team, coached by Ferne Labati, placed 14th in the United States in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Division II Academic Top 25 Team Honor Roll. This is the third consecutive year that the team was honored by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association for its academic achievements.

The Honor Roll award, given in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I, NCAA Division II, NCAA Division III, National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) and Junior College/Community College categories, honors teams throughout the nation that carry the highest grade point average for the entire season based on the nomination submitted by Women’s Basketball Coaches Association member head coaches. ������Ƶ University’s team finished the season with an overall grade point average of 3.473 and had the best grade point average for the West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC).

“Each of these coaches set an extraordinary example for their peers to follow by holding academics in such high esteem with their student-athletes,” said Beth Bass, Women’s Basketball Coaches Association CEO.

“I think the work ethic of the team is outstanding. The way they perform in the classroom correlates with the effort on the court. I am very proud of them,” said Labati.

Members of the 2009-10 ������Ƶ University women’s basketball team include: Clare Berenato, of Pittsburgh, Pa., Jaleesa Hill, of Youngstown, Ohio, Jordan Burkes, of Coraopolis, Pa., Jill Emberg, of Cowansville, Pa., Orit Farchi, of Petak Tikva, Israel, Erika Haitz, of North Huntingdon, Pa., Laura Hambruch, of Burt, N.Y., Joelle Hill, of New York, N.Y., Ashley Ivory, of Cincinnati, Ohio, Katie Lintner, of Johnstown, Pa., Laura McCarthy, of Clinton, Pa., Ryenn Micaletti, of New Castle, Pa., Lindsy Muchnock, of Latrobe, Pa., Anne Marie Olesky, of Greensburg, Pa., Jenna Petrini, of Irwin, Pa., Joya Whittington, of Carbondale, Pa., and Katherine Ziemke, of Germantown, Md.

The team is led by Labati, Tony Grenek, assistant coach, and Courtney Callas, assistant coach.

Founded in 1981, the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) promotes women’s basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport and to foster and promote the development of the game as a sport for women and girls.