ASHLAND — Ashland University’s women’s basketball team is the No. 1-ranked team in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) NCAA Division II Top 25 Coaches’ Poll for the third week in a row, as the latest poll was released on Tuesday (Jan. 3) afternoon.
The Eagles (14-0 overall, 6-0 Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) remain the top-ranked team in the country, having garnered 22 of 24 first-place votes. Ashland had 20 first-place votes on Dec. 13, and 21 on Dec. 21.
This is the 16th time Ashland has been the No. 1 team in the WBCA poll. Ashland is 29-1 all-time when playing as the top team in Division II.
Tuesday is the 59th time Ashland has been in the Top 25 poll, all since the 1995-16 season. It is the 43rd time the Eagles have been in the Top 10, and the 35th time they have been in the Top 5. It is the 24th consecutive poll in which AU has appeared.
Ashland is one of six undefeated teams in Division II, and is one of two GLIAC teams in this week’s poll, along with No. 21 Grand Valley State.
Through Jan. 1, the Eagles have the best overall winning streak (14) and conference winning streak (14) in the country. Ashland leads NCAA Division II in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.71-to-1), assists per game (25.1), field-goal percentage (51.2) and scoring margin per game (35.9), is second in scoring offense per game (95.1), third in 3-point field-goal percentage (40.0) and turnover margin per game (10.07), tied for third in steals per game (15.1) and sixth in 3-point field-goal percentage defense (22.3).
Ashland will begin 2017 at Kates Gymnasium on Thursday (Jan. 5) at 5:30 p.m. against GLIAC North tri-leader Michigan Tech (8-2, 4-1). It will be Church Night at “The Kates.”
Coverage of Ashland University Eagles athletics is produced in partnership with OhioHealth, the official sports medicine provider for Ashland University and dozens of high schools and universities throughout Ohio.
