NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. – Lee University was one of 325 lacrosse teams from Division I, II, III, and NAIA colleges named by the Intercollegiate Lacrosse Coaches Association (IWLCA) as members of the IWLCA Academic Honor Squads for the 2023-24 academic year. To qualify for this prestigious honor, the women's lacrosse team must have posted a 3.2 or higher team GPA for the academic year.
 
The IWLCA also honored 524 individual student-athletes from 72 different institutions on the 2024 IWLCA Division II Academic Honor Roll. To be eligible for this honor, student-athletes must be a junior, senior, or graduate student and have earned a cumulative academic GPA of 3.50 or greater. 
 
The Lady Flames are not only competitive in the Gulf South Conference but faced one of the nation's toughest schedules in 2024. They have been at the top of the IWLCA Academic Honor Roll chart, team, and individuals, for five straight years.
 
Individual honor roll students named were Brittney White - GR Exercise Science/Athletic Training, Kaleigh Bernard - Education, Audrey Dutton - Biology/Pre-Physician's Assistant, Emma Lake - Special Education, Makenna Luzier - Biology, Kelsey McGowen - Curriculum and Instruction-Graduate degree, Hannah Nee - Nursing and Jamey Ryan - Nursing and Spanish.
 
Six years ago, when Lee President Dr. Paul Conn and former Athletic Director Larry Carpenter were searching for lacrosse coaches to help build a competitive program in the Gulf South Conference, Megan Smith and Derrel Martin were hired to do the job.
 
Martin stepped away before last season began and Smith was immediately appointed interim head coach. After the 2024 season the interim title was removed, and it was an easy decision when she was labeled the third head coach in the young history of Lee lacrosse.
  
"We are extremely honored to receive IWLCA Academic Honor Squad for the 5th straight year," said Coach Smith. "I am incredibly proud of the team this year, earning our highest GPA in program history with a 3.69.
 
"They worked really hard on and off the field to make this happen! I am also super proud of the eight individuals that were named to the Academic Honor Roll, which is another record for our program and something we will continue to build on," added Smith with remarks of praise for her team. 

"I am so proud of our women's lacrosse student athletes, and their commitment to academic achievement," proclaimed Lee Athletic Director John Maupin. "They continue to set a high bar and represent Lee University well!"