AMHERST, N.Y. - For the first time in the program's NCAA Division II era, the Daemen women's basketball team is opening a season as a nationally ranked team. The Wildcats come in at No. 20 in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) NCAA Division II Preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll which was released today.
Daemen, which just last week was announced as the near unanimous pick to win the East Coast Conference this season, is coming off a magical 2020-21 campaign. Despite playing through the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wildcats posted a 14-3 overall record, won a second consecutive ECC regular season title as well as the program's first-ever East Region championship. The Wildcats advanced to the Elite Eight where their season came to an end against eventual national champion Lubbock Christian. The Wildcats finished the season as the No. 8 ranked team in the WBCA poll.
Head coach Jenepher Banker returns for her sixth season at the helm. She has led the Wildcats to a 78-50 record to date with 55 of those victories coming in the last three seasons.
Banker will have a veteran group to work with as 13 players return, including incumbent starters Katie Titus (Penfield, N.Y.), Tiara Filbert (Batavia, N.Y.), Mickayla Ivy (Grand Rapids, Mich.) and Alahna Paige (Rochester, N.Y.). Titus and Filbert are each multi-time All-ECC honorees, as well as the last two ECC Preseason Players of the Year. Titus earned the accolade just last week after producing 14.8 points and 8.1 rebounds per contest last season. All together, the Wildcats return players responsible for 78% of their scoring, 81% of their rebounds and 85% of their assists.
Lubbock Christian tops the poll after receiving 20 of the 22 available first-place votes. Drury gained the two remaining first-place votes and comes in at No. 2. Lander (No. 3), Fort Hays State (No. 4) and Azusa Pacific (No. 5) round out the top five.
Daemen is one of three East Region teams included in the poll, joining No. 13 Stonehill and No. 22 Bentley. Daemen hosts Stonehill in their home opener November 30, and will visit Bentley on January 2.
Daemen opens the 2021-22 season with an exhibition contest this Thursday, November 4 at Division I Buffalo. The regular season tips off with the Wildcats facing St. Anselm on Friday, November 12 as part of the Redhawks Classic hosted by Roberts Wesleyan.
WBCA DIVISION II PRESEASON TOP 25 COACHES POLL |
|
W-L * |
PTS. |
PREV. |
1. Lubbock Christian (20) |
23-0 |
547 |
1 |
2. Drury (2) |
24-2 |
524 |
2 |
3. Lander |
20-2 |
465 |
3 |
4. Fory Hays State |
22-4 |
408 |
10 |
5. Azusa Pacific |
12-5 |
356 |
16 |
T-6. Central Missouri |
23-5 |
339 |
4 |
T-6. North Georgia |
18-2 |
339 |
6 |
8. Ashland |
16-9 |
326 |
20 |
9. Gannon |
13-1 |
311 |
26 |
10. Texas A&M-Commerce |
14-4 |
307 |
17 |
11. Tampa |
7-0 |
305 |
NR |
12. Alaska Anchorage |
3-0 |
267 |
NR |
13. Stonehill |
0-0 |
257 |
NR |
14. Glenville St. |
12-4 |
235 |
23 |
15. Valdosta St. |
18-4 |
173 |
13 |
16. Southwestern Oklahoma St. |
18-4 |
171 |
15 |
17. Charleston (W.Va.) |
19-3 |
155 |
5 |
18. Minnesota Duluth |
14-2 |
150 |
12 |
19. Union (Tenn.) |
19-6 |
147 |
22 |
20. DAEMEN |
14-3 |
125 |
8 |
21. Carson-Newman |
15-4 |
124 |
24 |
22. Bentley |
0-0 |
93 |
NR |
T-23. Colorado Mines |
17-3 |
89 |
21 |
T-23. Truman St. |
17-5 |
89 |
27 |
T-25. Belmont Abbey |
22-3 |
80 |
7 |
T-25. Hawaii Pacific |
13-1 |
80 |
14 |
* denotes final 2020-21 record
( ) denotes first-place votes
Others receiving votes: Michigan Tech (20-2) 59; Nebraska Kearney (23-4) 58; Indiana, PA (0-0) 57; Arkansas Tech (14-2) 51; Western Washington (6-0) 47; Tuskegee (12-2) 44; Barton (13-3) 41; Grand Valley State (14-6) 40; West Texas A&M (15-6) 40; Benedict (12-3) 30; Lee, TN (15-8) 24; Tusculum (19-4) 23; Augustana, SD (12-5) 20; Southeastern Oklahoma State (13-8) 17; University of the Sciences (0-0) 16; Texas A&M International (11-5) 15; Emporia State (18-7) 8; Walsh (17-7) 3.
Daemen College features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 18 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.
Follow the Daemen College women's basketball program on Twitter and Instagram at @DaemenWBB.