NCAA D2SIDA Women's Basketball Poll (Jan. 26)
INDIANAPOLIS – While the WBCA Coaches Poll officially debuts Feb. 2, the D2SIDA Poll currently has Great Midwest Athletic Conference member Cedarville slotted 23rd among Division II’s best in women’s basketball.
The Yellow Jackets have scorched the conference landscape to the tune of a 12-1 record. All of those victories for head coach Kari Hoffman and her program are in order since a very narrow season-opening defeat against Ohio Dominican.
Cedarville’s offense is buzzing with a league-leading 87.1 points per game, including a season-high 112 posted last night at home vs. Lake Erie.
The Yellow Jackets are the best in the Great Midwest in shooting percentage and on the opposite side of the ball, second in defensive field goal percentage. CU is also tops in the league in three-point percentage at .419 and lead all teams in assist-to-turnover ratio.
The Yellow Jackets are adept at spreading out the floor and positioning their deadly shooters for open looks beyond the arc that absolutely dismantle a defense. Senior guard Ashlyn Huffman has been a rock solid force at the point while leading the team with 16.15 ppg. She also leads the team in rebounding and passing.
Three other teammates are averaging double figures behind her including 2019-20 Great Midwest Freshman of the Year Isabelle Bolender (13.62 ppg). Despite her diminutive size at 5-5, Emily Chapman is one of the best rebounding guards in the conference to complement her 13.38 points per game and 57.0 field goal percentage.
Allison Mader has averaged almost 12 points per game and rounded up, Paige Garr is virtually a double-digit scorer for the deep roster.
Cedarville has already defeated Walsh and Kentucky Wesleyan on the road and avenged the first loss vs. ODU with a home win on Jan. 16 against the Panthers.
The Yellow Jackets are putting together a resume that will rank among the Midwest Region’s best come tourney selection time. Drury is No. 1 in the Midwest Region according to the D2SIDA Poll flanked by No. 11 Southern Indiana and No. 15 Grand Valley State.
Great Midwest member Walsh was a top 10 team in the D2SIDA Poll earlier in the season but along with incoming league member Ashland, are looking to bounce back from a midseason slump for more national attention.
The Yellow Jackets are also in the driver’s seat for the Great Midwest regular season title and potentially host the final four of the conference championship tournament slated for March 5-6 following the quarterfinal rounds.
Cedarville has played the most games in the league (13) and still have two more contests slated this week at Ohio Valley (Thursday) and back home against Ursuline (Saturday).