Going into a key Great Midwest Athletic Conference home game on Thursday (Jan. 23) night, Ashland University's women's basketball team has climbed up to No. 12 in the latest Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) NCAA Division II Coaches Poll, released on Tuesday (Jan. 21) afternoon.
 
The Eagles are 16-3 overall and 8-1 in the Great Midwest, have a current 10-game winning streak, and sit a half-game behind first-place Malone. Ashland is tied for second place with Hillsdale (11-5, 8-1) – AU's opponent on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium in a Morgan's Message game.
 
Tuesday's poll marks Ashland's highest spot since Dec. 3, when it was at No. 10. The latest poll is the 183^rd time the Eagles have been in the Top 25, and the 63^rd straight poll in which AU has been ranked.
 
This is the first time Ashland has been No. 12 in the nation since 2015-16, and the Eagles are 4-0 all-time as the No. 12 team in the country, and 343-23 (.937) all-time as a Top 25 squad.
 
Through Monday (Jan. 20), the Eagles are No. 5 in the country in both scoring defense (50.8 ppg. allowed) and scoring margin per game (plus-21.2 ppg.), tied for No. 6 in the nation in field-goal percentage (46.7), and No. 7 in D-II in 3-point field-goal percentage defense (23.3).
 
Individually, senior forward Hayley Smith has the second-most total rebounds (206) in D-II, while senior guard Morgan Yoder is No. 10 in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.46-to-1).
 
2024-25 ASHLAND UNIVERSITY WOMEN'S BASKETBALL WBCA COACHES POLL RANKINGS: No. 5 (preseason), No. 7 (Nov. 19), No. 14 (Nov. 26), No. 10 (Dec. 3), No. 20 (Dec. 10), No. 21 (Dec. 17), No. 19 (Dec. 31), No. 15 (Jan. 7), No. 14 (Jan. 14), No. 12 (Jan. 21).