LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The Northern Illinois University softball team recorded the fourth-highest team grade point average in the country for the 2022-23 academic year as the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (NFCA) revealed its Easton Top 10 GPAs on Tuesday (August 1). NIU recorded a team GPA of 3.753 for this past academic year. 

The top-five in the Easton Top 10 GPA list included national leader Georgia State (3.83), Illinois State (3.766), Southern Illinois (3.763), NIU and Harvard (3.74). 

"Our athletic department has always emphasized the significance of academics alongside our athletic endeavors," said NIU head coach Christina Sutcliffe. "We have some of the hardest working academic coordinators in the country within the SAASS department and we couldn't achieve this without Kelly (Loughman). 

"This accomplishment is a testament to the players' perseverance and dedication in maintaining a balance between their studies and their passion for softball. Our program believes in intentionally building strong academic habits for future success in life and this achievement is a testament to that culture. Ranking fourth in the country is an extraordinary accomplishment that reflects the team's unwavering commitment to both academic excellence and athletic prowess. Our program has consistently proven that success goes beyond wins and losses; it is about nurturing well-rounded student-athletes who excel both academically and athletically."

NIU is one of two programs in the Mid-American Conference to earn top-10 recognition, as it is joined by Toledo who ranked sixth.

The NFCA also recognized its Easton/NFCA All-America Scholar-Athletes, who earned a 3.5 or higher GPA. NIU has 21 individual recipients of the All-America Scholar-Athlete award. (listed below)

Avery Carnahan (Johnston, Iowa/Johnston)
Lily Cassell (LaGrange, Ohio/Keystone)
Fiona Crane (Evergreen Park, Ill./Mother McAuley)
Cara Cruthers (Bartlett, Ill./South Elgin)
Emily Dato (Munster, Ind./Munster)
Emma Giese (Kenosha, Wis./Indian Trail)
Rylie Hartman (Kankakee, Ill./Herscher)
Courtney James (Fishers, Ind./Fishers)
Trinity Jones Estrada (Sylmar, Calif./John F. Kennedy)
Sam Mallinder (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North)
Madison Mathews (Yuma, Ariz./Cibola)
Claire Norred (Tipton, Ind./Tipton)
Delaney Ostrowski (Geneseo, Ill./Geneseo)
Brianna Pechman (West Chicago, Ill./West Chicago Community)
Kacie Quick (Bloomington, Ill./Normal West)
Ally Rodriguez (Romeoville, Ill./Plainfield East)
Mia Ruder (Herscher, Ill./Herscher)
Isabel Shafer (Dalton City, Ill./Mt. Zion)
Caitlyn Shumaker (Bellefontaine, Ohio/Bellefontaine)
Danielle Stewart (Frankfort, Ill./Lincoln-Way East)
Kelly Walinski (Worth, Ill./Marist)