Women’s Basketball Climbs In WBCA Coaches Poll To No. 15 Spot

1.7.25

By: Ashland University Athletics

In the first Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) NCAA Division II Coaches Poll of 2025, released on Tuesday (Jan. 7) afternoon, Ashland University's women's basketball team has moved up four spots to No. 15.
 
The Eagles are 12-3 overall and 4-1 in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference, and are riding a six-game winning streak. They will have a Black Out game on Thursday (Jan. 9) at 5:30 p.m. vs. Walsh (8-6, 3-3) at the Sherrill Hudson Court at Kates Gymnasium.
 
Tuesday's ranking marks the 181st time Ashland has been in the top 25 in D-II, and is the 61st consecutive poll in which AU has been ranked. The Eagles are 7-1 all-time as the No. 15 team in the nation, and 339-23 (.936) all-time as a ranked team in D-II.
 
As of Monday (Jan. 6), senior forward Hayley Smith has the second-most total rebounds (166) in Division II, and is ninth in the country in both field-goal percentage (59.1) and rebounds per game (11.1).
 
As a team, the Eagles are fourth in the nation in assists per contest (18.6), sixth in scoring defense (51.4 ppg.), seventh in field-goal percentage (46.7), and tied for ninth in scoring margin (plus-19.1 ppg.).
 
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).