INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA is honoring teams today from 176 of the nation's more than 300 Division I college and universities with public recognition awards for their latest Academic Progress Rate scores, including the University of Evansville men's cross country and women's basketball teams. Coach Misty Murphy's basketball team and coach Don Walters' runners posted APR scores in the top 10 percent of all squads in their respective sports, earning each the NCAA honor.

"We are very proud of the academic performance of all our teams this year," said Director of Athletics John Stanley. "However, it is particularly special when the NCAA sends national recognition, as is the case with our men's cross country team and our women's basketball team. Our coaches and student-athletes put forth a lot of effort to achieve these outstanding results and we couldn't be more happy with the recognition for the two teams and our university."

The public recognition awards are part of a broad Division I academic reform effort begun several years ago. APR scores are based on the retention and eligibility of every scholarship athlete on every team at the Division I level. Teams receiving awards had to post APR scores ranging from 975 to a perfect 1,000.

"One plus we have here at the University of Evansville is that we attract student-athletes who want to compete at a high level and do well academically," Walters said. "They're going to stay and finish their degree. That means so much to the success of our programs."

Added Murphy, "It is an honor for our university and women’s basketball program to be recognized for the total commitment to being a student-athlete. It is a credit to the young women in the women’s basketball program for their efforts in the classroom."