General | 8/19/2025 2:25:00 PM

RICHARDSON, Texas (Aug. 19, 2025) – Championing excellence in academics remains a cornerstone quality of the Texas Woman's Athletic Department.

During the 2024-25 academic year, the Pioneers claimed titles in competition and in academics. For the third straight year and eighth time in program history, TWU posted the highest collective grade point average among all women's sports in the Lone Star Conference, winning the LSC Academic Excellence Award presented by Balfour.

The Pioneers boasted 27 student-athletes over five sports with a 4.0 GPA.

In addition to claiming the overall award, three TWU teams celebrated the highest GPA in their respective sports among LSC member institutions. TWU Basketball with a 3.883, TWU Soccer with a 3.693 and TWU STUNT with a 3.418 all claimed the Academic Champion title. This marked the third consecutive year the Pioneers have won at least one Academic Champion title. Additionally, it marks the second consecutive titles for basketball, soccer and STUNT.

"We are proud of our players, and the work that they continually put in not only on the field but in the classroom," said TWU Soccer Head Coach Babak Abouzar. "They are true testaments of student-athletes. I would be remiss if I didn't mention our assistant coach Jaz and the time and effort she puts in on a daily basis throughout the year to make sure our team is focused on their studies."

"I am so proud of our team this past season," said TWU Basketball Head Coach Beth Jillson. "They continue to pursue excellence in competition and in academics. They have a stellar focus on their goals and work hard to achieve them. Our staff does an incredible job emphasizing academics with our team and encouraging our student-athletes to achieve their best."

"To be known for great academics is an incredible accomplishment," said TWU STUNT Head Coach Leslie Allen. "Our Pioneers are committed to reaching the highest heights in all areas and to win this award is a true testament to their determination, dedication and perseverance in all areas."

According to the LSC, "The award winners were determined by a point system, with points distributed according to finish by sport in those that the LSC sponsors after a conference-wide comparison of team GPAs. The member institution with the highest team GPA in each sport was named the sport's Academic Champion and earned five (5) points toward the overall award. Each sport's runner-up picked up four (4) points and third-place three (3) points toward the overall award. Any program with a Team GPA of 2.00 and above earned one (1) point. Points for each member institution were totaled by gender and then divided by that institution's number of counter programs in that gender to arrive at the comparison value."

The LSC Academic Excellence Award was first awarded in 2013-14.

St. Edward's joined the Pioneers as LSC Academic Excellence Award winners, being named the recipient for the men's athletic teams.