NORTHAMPTON - Smith College basketball finished among the nation's elite academic teams last season as the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) announced its 2024-25 Academic Top 25 Honor Rolls, it was announced by the organization Tuesday. 

Smith earned the 20th overall spot out of over 430 NCAA Division III schools with a GPA of 3.735. The Bears appear in the top-20 for the second time in the last four seasons. 

Head coach Lynn Hersey was named the D3hoops.com National Coach of the Year after leading the Bears to yet another historic season. Smith captured a fifth-straight NEWMAC Championship and advanced to the national championship game for the second consecutive year. Graduate student Ally Landau (Livingston, NJ) earned WBCA and D3hoops.com All-America honors while also being named the NEWMAC Tournament Most Outstanding Player and landing on the NEWMAC All-Conference First Team. Teammate Hannah Martin (North Andover, MA/North Andover) was selected to the NCAA All-Tournament Team to go along with NEWMAC All-Conference First Team and D3hoops.com All-Region recognition. Smith finished the year with an overall record of 31-3 and ranked No. 2 in the final WBCA and D3hoops.com standings. 

The WBCA Academic Top 25 recognizes college women's basketball teams across the nation in their respective divisions that carry the highest combined GPAs inclusive of all student-athletes on their rosters for the entire season. The 2024-25 season is the 30th in which the WBCA has compiled the honor rolls.

"The WBCA is pleased to recognize those women's basketball programs that have committed themselves to excellence on the court and in the classroom," said WBCA Executive Director Danielle Donehew.  "The 119 teams we honor this year strive to achieve all-around success and we commend their efforts. Congratulations!"

About Smith Athletics: Smith College is a NCAA Division III member of the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference that sponsors 11 intercollegiate sports. For more information log onto GoSmithBears.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram,