CHANDLER, Ariz. – For the fourth straight year, the Missouri State field hockey team was selected as a recipient of the Zag Field Hockey/NFHCA Division I National Academic Team Award, announced by the National Field Hockey Coaches Association Wednesday, March 8.
 
The National Academic Team Award recognizes those institutions that achieved a minimum team grade-point average of 3.0 during the first semester of the 2016-17 academic year.
 
Boasting a 3.234 team GPA for the 2016 fall semester, Missouri State was one of 76 teams recognized by the NFHCA. Brown posted the top team GPA in the first semester with a mark of 3.78. Hofstra (3.67), Virginia Commonwealth (3.58) and Bryant (3.57) followed in the team GPA rankings while American, Ball State and Temple each shared fifth place with a mark of 3.56.
 
Missouri State received the academic team award for the 10^th time in program history. Seventeen Bears finished the fall semester with a 3.00 GPA or better while Megan Drew and Feli Heinzel posted a perfect 4.0 GPA. The Mid-American Conference was well represented as every team in the league received the national recognition.
 
 For more information on the Missouri State field hockey team, visit www.missouristatebears.com or Twitter (MSUBearsFHockey).