Huskies Celebrate Academic Honor
The Northern Illinois University women's basketball program was recently honored with special mention from the Women's Basketball Coaches' Association, a distinction that highlights the team's commitment to academic excellence as much as athletic performance. The 2025‑26 Huskies posted a team grade point average of 3.526, marking the eighth straight year the program has maintained a collective GPA of 3.5 or higher.
What makes the accolade particularly notable is the consistency of the achievement; the Huskies have sustained a 3.5+ GPA for eight consecutive seasons, underscoring a culture that values scholarship alongside competition.
Among the standouts, senior guard Maria Serracanta not only posted a 3.98 GPA in kinesiology but also collected both Academic All‑Mid‑American Conference and College Sports Communicators Academic All‑District honors. Her on‑court contributions — leading the league with a 2.00 assist‑to‑turnover ratio and ranking eighth in assists at 3.9 per game — further illustrate the blend of intellect and skill.
Fellow senior Marta Hermoso earned her first Academic All‑MAC selection with a 3.37 GPA in health sciences, adding another layer of distinction to the roster.
A Legacy of Scholarship
The latest recognition adds to a tradition that has seen the Huskies consistently rank among the nation's top academic teams. With 139 NCAA Division I women's basketball programs achieving a 3.0 team GPA or higher in the 2025‑26 season, the Huskies' performance reflects a broader movement toward academic excellence in college sports.