ORONO – The University of Maine softball team ranked 17th nationally in team grade point average, according to recent poll by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

The Black Bears were one of only three America East schools to make the national poll and their GPA of 3.349 was tops among the league’s teams. Team GPAs were from the 2005-2006 academic season. St. Bonaventure topped the poll with a 3.590 GPA while Drake (3.510) and Lehigh (3.493) rounded out the top three.

In addition to Maine’s school-record 35 wins and the America East regular season title last season, seniors Brittany Cheney and Erin Provost, who were named to the ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District First Team.