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The Scoop on D3 Women’s Hoops: Elizabethtown’s big win, Smith makes statement, Millikin falls at NCC

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By Riley Zayas

January 4, 2024

Welcome to D3 WBB Daily, as I will take a look each morning at the biggest storylines, news, and notables in D3 women’s hoops, getting you up-to-date on what happened the day before, and what is upcoming in the day ahead. I’ve split this breakdown into three parts: “Tipping Off” will include 3-4 main storylines that have stuck out to me, “Fast Breaks” will be quick notes on impressive performances, stats, etc., and “Looking ahead” will feature a couple key games that are on my “must-watch” list in the day ahead.

For all the hype around yesterday’s matchups and conference play resuming/starting for programs across the country, last night’s games more than lived up to that. We saw so many competitive contests, especially in the Midwest, where the MIAC, WIAC, ARC, and CCIW each had must-see matchups. Here are some of my thoughts on how everything transpired!

North Central was flying under the radar…but not so much anymore
NCC went 6-18 a year ago. And 9-17 in 2021-22. But this season, the Cardinals have already surpassed last year’s win total, and have shown flashes of considerable success. The string of three road losses in the span of a week to Chicago, Carroll, and Wheaton, put NCC in a tough spot, but we’ve seen the Cardinals battle back. They took highly-regarded Illinois Wesleyan into overtime, and fell to Coe by a single point. But last night they finally got in the win column in one of those “big games”. Everything came together for NCC against 11th-ranked Millikin, and the Cardinals emerged with an 84-78 victory, stunning a Millikin team that seemed near-unstoppable.

In a high-scoring battle, NCC dominated in the second half, outscoring Millikin 51-34 over the final two quarters. Interestingly, Elyce Knudsen, the nation’s leading scorer, still had 24 points. Sophie Darden had 18 as well, and Bailey Coffman added 16. The Big Blue shot 42 percent from the field, but struggled majorly from 3-point range. Millikin struggled with foul trouble through the entire second half, as Knudsen, Matayia Tellis, and Darden each sat for significant lengths of time over those final 20 minutes.

Elle Sutter was a huge key to NCC’s win, as she got into the paint, drew fouls, and scored at a high clip. Also a standout soccer player, Sutter finished with 25 points and seven rebounds, having shot 10-of-12 from the FT line. NCC guarded the dribble-drive exceptionally well, and had a solid defensive gameplan that ended up being well-executed.

NCC may have been under-the-radar because of its record entering Wednesday’s matchup, but not anymore. When you take down the 11th-ranked team in the land, people soon know who you are. And NCC is as much in the CCIW title fight as anyone at this point.

Elizabethtown ends Scranton’s undefeated bid in Landmark Conference battle
After taking two disappointing losses in Puerto Rico and seeing its NCAA Tournament resume take a slight hit, Elizabethtown resumed Landmark Conference play with a vengeance. That’s what it takes to beat the #5 team in the country. Even without the student body in the stands due to winter break, there was plenty of energy in Elizabethtown’s gym on Wednesday evening, as the Blue Jays defeated Scranton, 67-64.

In what was a back-and-forth contest from the opening tip until the final buzzer, Elizabethtown won the rebounding battle by 8, shot 43 percent from the field, and overcame a -6 turnover margin to win the Blue Jays’ biggest game of the year. Summer McNulty had a stellar day for Elizabethtown with 25 points, shooting 8-of-18. The Blue Jays were also 14-of-16 at the FT line, which played a key role in a game decided by such a thin margin. If anything, this just makes the Landmark race a little more interesting. Elizabethtown, Catholic, and Scranton are all in the mix for the title, and each certainly has the capability of beating the other two.

A second-half comeback from Gustavus Adolphus
You almost had to do a double-take when looking at the halftime score. Concordia (MN), on the road in a pivotal MIAC matchup, led the 8th-ranked Gustavus Adolphus Gusties, 36-24, at the intermission. It was a much wider margin than I had expected for a halftime score, especially involving a very talented Gustavus team.

But the Gusties quickly righted the ship and an 11-0 run cut Concordia’s lead to a single point. From there, it was a battle all the way through. The Gusties won the fourth quarter, 18-14, and ended up winning the game by the same four-point margin, 64-60, in a key test within what appears to be a very competitive MIAC this season.

We knew Concordia was good, but last night showed that the Cobbers are right there in contention for the MIAC title, and are certainly a tough defensive squad. Points did not come easily for either team, though both did a good job of getting to the FT line. The biggest stat in my opinion? Gustavus won the battle on the offensive boards, 14-3, and second-chance points, 12-2. That is certain to give you an advantage in just about every game, no matter the opponent.

Smith with a statement
I said on Tuesday that MIT earned the final spot in my Top 25 ballot over Smith and a couple others. Well, the Pioneers of Smith have me rethinking that after the way last night played out in the NEWMAC. Smith completely dominated MIT in an 82-54 victory, winning big as the Pioneers had five scorers in double figures.

The NEWMAC will be a competitive league this year, no doubt, but Smith is certainly the frontrunner at this point. The loss to Dickinson on Sunday hurt their resume, but this win did plenty to improve that. MIT had been very good this year (including a win over Tufts on the road), but Smith’s offense was way too much to defend. The Pioneers finished with 56 points in the paint!

D3 Women’s Basketball Championship Game coverage moving to ESPN in 2025
I didn’t want to make this write-up any longer, but as I was getting ready to publish, I saw some breaking news from the NCAA. About 20 minutes ago, it was announced that the broadcast rights to 40 NCAA Championships have been acquired by ESPN. The agreement begins on Sept. 1, 2024 (which means the first D3 WBB broadcast will be the 2025 NCAA Tournament Final), and includes the D3 women’s basketball national title game, along with the D3 men’s basketball semifinals & championship game, and the D3 volleyball national title game. It is currently unclear if this agreement will affect the scheduling of the championship game, but that is an aspect I will keep a close eye on —> Link to press release

Fast Breaks
» Dubuque challenged #12 Wartburg considerably well in what proved to be a thrilling ARC battle, as the contest went into OT and was eventually won by Wartburg, 53-50. There was certainly an “upset” aspect to it, as Dubuque led late in the 4th, but just overall, exceptional basketball from both sides. The ARC title race is going to be one you’ll want to follow.

» Also, one more Wartburg note. Sara Faber surpassed the 1,000-point mark against Dubuque last night, so congratulations to her! That is a huge accomplishment, and she has been a key part of the Knight’s offensive success for several seasons now.

» Washington & Lee’s Mary Schleusner had yet another huge day for the Generals, with a 24-point, 20-rebound double-double. And she had five steals and three blocks in addition to it! She’s playing at such a high level right now and is so crucial to W&L’s success.

» Talk about great offensive performances. In an impactful 70-45 WIAC victory for UW-Eau Claire over UW-Platteville, UWEC’s Kyla Overskei had 28 points on a 6-of-7 day from 3-point range. She shot 11-of-14 (78.5%) from the field in total. Wow.

» DePauw moved to 2-0 in the NCAC with a big win over Ohio Wesleyan in what was a rematch of last year’s NCAC Semifinal (and was won by OWU). DePauw outscored OWU 24-18 in the third quarter, and won, 64-57, as Riley Mont came through with 19 points.

» Thank you to UW-Stout SID Casey Perrott, who I was told found the date of the last time UW-Stout and UW-Stevens Point faced off as ranked opponents. It took some serious research! Turns out it was Jan. 6, 2007, and three days to the date of that game 17 years later, the two programs battled as ranked opponents once again last night, and Stout won big, 82-53. Raegan Sorensen led the way with 25-point, 10-rebound double-double for the Blue Devils.

Looking Ahead
UMass-Dartmouth at #4 Rhode Island College, 5:30 pm ET

Univ. of New England at Suffolk, 5:30 pm ET

Merchant Marine at Mount St. Vincent, 6 pm ET

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The Scoop on D3 Women’s Hoops: Top 25 Ballot Breakdown: Week 4

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By Riley Zayas

January 2, 2024

It’s that time again! With New Year’s Day being yesterday, Top 25 ballots were submitted today, one day later than is typical for the D3hoops.com Poll. As I do each week, I wrote down my thoughts and analysis on my Top 25 ballot, and the 25 teams that I included. Once again, I am one of just 25 voters in this national poll, so this is simply the perspective of one national voter on the Top 25 landscape, but not a representation of how every voter approaches their ballot. That is one of the things that makes this poll so great. With 25 voters, you get varying opinions and perspectives on teams, leading to an interesting ranking. And that is even more so the case this week, as we went three weeks without an official Top 25 Poll. Within that time, we had an incredible amount of nationally-relevant matchups, many of which were at neutral sites, and gave us a chance to watch teams face off in key non-conference contests. Those matchups, as you will see in my notes below, proved especially insightful in several cases, as I worked to order and evaluate the teams in my ballot. It will not surprise me if we get a large number of teams in the “receiving votes” category this week, simply because there were so many results (impactful wins and losses) within the last few weeks that will affect how teams are perceived and ranked within each voter’s ballot.

Anyway, here we go…

  1. NYU (11-0): The Violets took down a solid UW-Platteville team on a neutral court in Santa Cruz, California, in what was a fourth Massey Top 50 win for NYU. The way the Violets performed in that 76-50 victory, including outscoring the Pioneers 16-2 in the second quarter, continues to speak volumes about NYU’s depth and talent level. This is a squad that heads into UAA play with a perfect 11-0 record and six Massey Top 100 wins already. Lots to like from the Violets right now.
  2. Transylvania (11-0): Transylvania had a solid week, notching a win over UW-Eau Claire (currently Massey Top 50) in Lexington. The Pioneers went 2-0 on their home court with victories over Edgewood and UWEC, and are very much on pace to go 25-0 once again through the regular season. As I mentioned last week, the defensive efficiency is exceptional, but the balance amongst scorers on the offensive end is another thing that makes Transy dangerous. All five starters scored in double figures in the win over UWEC on Saturday.
  3. UW-Whitewater (11-0): The Warhawks were not in action this last week, so no real update on Whitewater. The body of work from this team through non-conference play was really impressive, especially as Carroll remains in a good position as a Top 25 contender, and Illinois Wesleyan surges higher in the poll (or at least, in my ballot…we’ll see about the poll when it is released tonight). The IWU win came on the road, and the victory over Concordia-Moorhead, a narrow victory, but a win nonetheless, came on a neutral court. Throw in a quality win over Chicago, and this team looks very strong headed into WIAC play. Beyond just the numbers, Whitewater is incredibly tough to defend, with five shooters on the floor at all times. There is clear communication between the guards and posts, and that is valuable as well. We’ve seen it against nationally-ranked competition multiple times this year, and we’ll see it through WIAC play in the coming weeks and months.
  4. Rhode Island College (12-0): Just behind Whitewater, RIC also boasts a really impressive resume. Four wins over Top 50 Massey teams, two of which were on a neutral court, certainly sticks out. I like the direction the Anchorwomen are headed in, and they continue LEC play against Mass.-Dartmouth on Thursday in a matchup that should push RIC a little bit.
  5. Scranton (11-0): The Lady Royals remain in the Top 5 with a perfect record and strong on-court play. The victory over DeSales is Scranton’s lone Massey Top 100 win, but to put context to the 11-0 record, Scranton ranks No. 2 in efficiency nationally (only behind NYU), per D3Datacast.com. That efficiency shows up when watching Scranton compete, and everything seems to be clicking for the Lady Royals heading into a key Landmark Conference duel at Elizabethtown tomorrow.
  6. Illinois Wesleyan (11-2): Yes, I have the Titans ahead of Hope, who beat them earlier in the year. But I think we have seen IWU tested a little bit more, and more importantly, away from their home court. That said, the margin between IWU, Gustavus Adolphus, and Hope is very, very narrow. The depth of IWU continues to be very impressive, and results-wise, three of IWU’s top four wins (all Massey Top 50) have come away from Bloomington. The neutral court victories over Puget Sound and WashU are strong wins, as is the victory at Chicago. The continual improvement of the Titans has been cool to watch, and I think at this point, we’re seeing a team that is cohesive, balanced, and remarkably tough to beat on the defensive end.
  7. Gustavus Adolphus (9-1): The Gusties took down Bethel, 61-45, on Saturday, adding to its win total heading into a pivotal MIAC matchup at Concordia-Moorhead tomorrow. Overall, the non-conference portion of the schedule served Gustavus fairly well, as it yielded a strong win over UW-Stout, and even the loss to Rhode Island College provided a good test and benefitted the Strength of Schedule. As mentioned a second ago, the margins between IWU, Gustavus, and Hope are minimal, but right now, I’m giving the Gusties a slight edge ahead of a very good Hope team.
  8. Hope (12-1): The Flying Dutch came away with two wins in New York City over Lehman and Salem State, but that did little to strengthen Hope’s resume. However, Hope has several top-level results already this year, and I’ve been impressed by the approach of this team. Having a completely new starting five is difficult, so beating Illinois Wesleyan, UW-Platteville, Millikin, and Augustana, amongst others, becomes even more notable. That’s my biggest takeaway from Hope right now. Massey Ratings has the Flying Dutch at No. 3.
  9. Christopher Newport (13-1): To be clear, CNU didn’t fall from No. 6 to No. 9 on my ballot purely because of the loss to SUNY New Paltz. But it did have something to do with it. CNU had two tough games at the Stevens Tournament, and while the Captains beat Stevens on Saturday, it took them a little while to pull away. We saw similar situations against both Grove City and Whitman. CNU is certainly a Top 10 team in my mind, and playing so much away from home does not make things any easier. To only have one loss heading into January is actually a big positive, considering the schedule CNU has played so far. Ultimately, IWU, Gustavus, and Hope had slight edges over the Captains, though we will see what plays out moving forwards.
  10. Millikin (10-2): We hear so much about Elyce Knudsen and Bailey Coffman when discussing Millikin, which is valid, but I think Sophie Darden and Matayia Tellis have both stepped up for Millikin as well. That creates a real challenge for opponents on both ends of the floor. There are no major visible weaknesses for the Big Blue, who boast two wins over Massey Top 50 teams in DePauw and UW-Platteville. I’ll be interested to see how the rest of the voters handle the loss to Hope. Considering that game was played in Holland, and against a Hope team that we know is Top 10-caliber, it is hard to knock Millikin that much. The CCIW is going to be an incredibly tough league, evidenced by the fact that I have two CCIW squads within my Top 10 right now.
  11. Emory (10-1): Emory is a better team than I think they’ve been given credit for. The Hardin-Simmons win sticks out, considering HSU has experience and depth, and several different scorers on the floor at all times. I thought Emory handled that very well on the defensive end, and besides the loss to CNU (in which they were without Claire Brock), Emory has not stumbled. Expect several more top-quality results from the Eagles as UAA play tips off.
  12. Johns Hopkins (10-1): I had JHU on my last ballot, but the Blue Jays have made some significant jumps to reach the No. 12 spot this week. The 87-79 victory over Chicago on a neutral court last week was yet another quality win for the frontrunner in the Centennial Conference, who only seems to be playing better and better as the weeks progress. JHU had not played for 20 days leading into the matchup against Chicago, but seemed to be in rhythm from the jump. That was impressive to see, and the wins over WashU and Gettysburg contribute well to JHU’s current resume as well.
  13. UW-Stout (10-1): The Blue Devils have added a mid-year transfer, Lexi Wagner, who previously played at D1 Youngstown State and D2 Mercyhurst. Wagner is a skilled scorer, and only improves the versatility and depth found on UW-Stout’s roster. It is another big positive for a team that rolled through the first two months of the season with virtually no hiccups outside of the loss at Gustavus Adolphus. The offensive efficiency is exceptional, and the Blue Devils will be able to win plenty of games behind their outside scorer presence. That said, the WIAC schedule is no joke, and I’m excited to see how Stout navigates the first week of league play with a game at UW-Stevens Point and a home duel against UW-Oshkosh; UWSP is 11-0 and UWO is in my Top 25 this week.
  14. Wartburg (11-2): The Knights are difficult to figure out. Wartburg clearly has plenty of experienced talent, but has shown some inconsistency as of late. They have taken two fairly-one sided loss to Whitman (85-51), and WashU (72-46) in the last two weeks, but also beat DePauw, 89-40, on a neutral court within that span. I’ll be keeping a close eye on the Knights as ARC play resumes. It will not surprise me to see Wartburg back near (or in) the Top 10 as the next two months progress. But the losses to Whitman and WashU are difficult to grade as a voter, considering neither was a very competitive contest. Time will tell, but Wartburg is a Top 15 team at this point in time from my perspective, and I would guess most voters will agree.
  15. Amherst (9-0): I’ve had the Mammoths in my Top 25 since the preseason, and having seen them play, I have little doubt that a No. 15 ranking is warranted. But Amherst also does not have the current results to back that up…yet. We get NESCAC play on Friday/Saturday of this week, and Amherst opens against Williams and Middlebury (who beat Stevens and lost to New Paltz by 3 this past weekend). Both games are at home, and will give us a good chance to see how Amherst contends against stronger competition.
  16. Hardin-Simmons (11-2): HSU is 11-2 and in a good spot right now as ASC play picks back up. The trip to Georgia saw the Cowgirls defeat Piedmont and fall to Emory, as their record moved to 11-2. For the most part, I like what I’ve seen from HSU, and the experience on the roster continues to be a point in the Cowgirls’ favor. But ASC play will be the real test. McMurry and Mary Hardin-Baylor are HSU’s next two games, and both teams have opened the season strong. I was glad to see HSU challenge itself by going to Emory and contending on the road, and as a result (along with a few other key results from other teams), HSU does not really move much in my ranking.
  17. Whitman (9-3): I said it last week, but Whitman’s performances against Wartburg and Christopher Newport in Nashville were very valuable. It gave us a chance to see the Blues in action against Top-15 ranked opponents on a neutral court, especially having not been tested all that much early in the non-conference schedule. Beating Wartburg, 85-51, put the Blues back on my radar, and contending against CNU only furthered the resume. The 17-25 spots in this ballot, as you will see, were very tough to arrange in terms of order. Whitman ultimately ends up at No. 17 as I value Wartburg highly and the wins over Colorado College and Pacific certainly help. I should also note that while Whitman has three losses, only two came against D3 opponents.
  18. Bowdoin (10-1): Bowdoin defeated Chicago this past week in a strong victory for the Polar Bears, who are trending up, in my opinion. We’ve seen wins over Bates and Springfield in addition to the recent one over Chicago, and much like Amherst, NESCAC play should only solidify Bowdoin’s place in the Top 25. Watching them play, the offensive efficiency really sticks out, especially as the Polar Bears shoot 45.6% from the field. Interested to see where Bowdoin ends up in tonight’s Top 25 Poll, as I think Bowdoin is a little bit underrated at this point in time.
  19. UW-Oshkosh (9-2): Early on, I was unsure about Oshkosh, but as the season progresses, I like the way the Titans are playing. According to Massey Ratings, Oshkosh is the nation’s best defensive team, and we saw that in the Titans’ 69-41 win over Ripon on Saturday. They allow an average of 44.7 points per game, and currently hold quality wins over WashU and Wittenberg, in addition to having beaten Ripon. Definitely right up there with Whitewater and Stout as a WIAC contender, and certainly in position for an NCAA Tournament bid.
  20. Catholic (11-0): Catholic has more than earned its spot in my ballot, as going undefeated is no small feat. My concern had been the quality of Catholic’s schedule, but having watched the Cardinals’ win over Marymount, I am confident in where Catholic ended up in my ballot. We’ve seen Catholic beat three Massey Top 100 teams (Shenandoah, Elizabethtown, Marymount), which strengthens its resume, and I am especially interested to see the home matchup against Scranton on Jan. 12. That will be a crucial matchup in the Landmark, and especially so for Catholic, considering it is a chance to face Scranton at home.
  21. Mary Hardin-Baylor (11-1): UMHB is similar to Amherst and Catholic right now in the sense that The Cru has put together a very strong run to open the season, but does not have many quality results to point to. Millsaps challenged the Crusaders on a neutral court in New York City, but UMHB passed that test and extended its win streak to 11. Ultimately, you have to win the games in front of you, and that is what UMHB has done. Katie Novak-Lenoir, in her first year as head coach, is leading the program extremely well, playing a fast-paced style that also puts an emphasis on quality defense. UMHB faces UT-Dallas this coming Saturday in what should be a great defensive battle within the ASC.
  22. WashU (7-4): This is a case where you really have to balance a look at the overall body of work in addition to recent performance. WashU started the season with a 3-4 record, but in the four games since First Team All-UAA guard Jessica Brooks returned to the floor, the Bears are a perfect 4-0. And those wins have come against Dubuque, Fontbonne, UW-River Falls, and Wartburg. Three of those four are in the Massey Top 100. Two of those (UWRF and Wartburg) are in the Massey Top 50, and WashU beat those two teams on consecutive days. The 72-46 win over Wartburg at Wartburg’s holiday tournament was pretty impressive and played a role in getting WashU to No. 22, as opposed to being No. 24 or No. 25. Again, I think Wartburg is a solid Top 15 team, and to win by that margin on the opponent’s home court deserves some serious recognition. WashU also has Lexy Harris in the post, who is quickly making her case to be a Freshman All-America selection. The Bears have also played the nation’s sixth-toughest strength-of-schedule, according to Massey Ratings. I really like the direction WashU is headed in with UAA play beginning this week.
  23. Puget Sound (8-3): The Loggers are in my ballot for the first time this season. They play several non-D3 opponents in non-conference play (much like Whitman), which makes it a little tougher to gauge the ordering of Puget Sound in my ballot. But the fact that the Loggers went to the Midwest on consecutive weekends and faced UW-Eau Claire, UW-Stout, Illinois Wesleyan, and John Carroll is something we rarely see from NWC teams, and is outstanding for resume-building. Puget Sound went 2-2 in those games, picking up a Massey Top 50 win over UW-Eau Claire (on UWEC’s home court) and a neutral court win over John Carroll, who is in the Massey Top 100. Their D3 losses to IWU and UW-Stout are quality losses, especially with the way both have played since those early November matchups. If you remember, Puget Sound fell to IWU by a 78-77 margin and led that game, 44-36, at the half.
  24. Trinity (TX) (9-4): December saw Trinity drop three games in the span of a week, all of which were away from home and against Massey Top 100 opponents. It also saw the Tigers leave the D3hoops.com Classic with a quality win over Framingham State, who was 11-0 entering the contest. Natalie Anderson being unavailable for the last four games did not help the matter, as she nearly averages a double-double, with 18.8 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. That said, Trinity’s guard play is exceptional and St. Thomas (MN) transfer Natalie Greenwood should give the Tigers more depth in the post, especially in Anderson’s absence. It will not surprise me in the slightest if Trinity closes the regular season by going undefeated through the remainder of SCAC play.
  25. MIT (8-2): The final spot in my ballot really came down to three teams: MIT, Tufts, and Smith. All three had similar resumes, though Smith’s 66-63 loss on Sunday to Dickinson hurt the Pioneers’ chances of being ranked just a little bit more. I had Smith high in early December, but watching more film on them and evaluated results since that point, I think MIT has the edge, especially considering, amongst other aspects, MIT won at Trinity (CT), while Smith beat the Bantams at home. MIT also has three Massey Top 50 wins, while Smith has just one. Tufts was also in the mix, but it was tough for me to think about putting Tufts ahead of MIT, when MIT beat the Jumbos on the road. In fact, all three of MIT’s best wins came away from home, which is pretty notable. That included a win over WashU that looks even better as of late. We’ll see what is ahead for MIT in NEWMAC play.

Hope you enjoyed this ballot breakdown! The D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll will be released tonight, so stay tuned for that. Have a great rest of your day! And as always, feel free to reach out with thoughts/feedback, Leave a comment below, DM me on X/Twitter (@ZayasRiley) or email me at rileyzayas@gmail.com.

Other links that are insightful & mentioned above: 

D3Datacast.com WBB Efficiency Ratings

Massey Ratings-D3 WBB

Scott Peterson’s Current Season Results Model

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The Scoop on D3 Women’s Hoops: Here’s how I’m currently seeing the Top 25…

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December 28, 2023

By Riley Zayas

Hope everyone had a happy holidays and a Merry Christmas! This is a great time of the year, and we’re now into our final holiday tournaments of the season. The next tournaments on the calendar after this week? Conference tournaments, and of course, the NCAA Tournament soon to follow. That’s hard to believe! We’re halfway through the season, and honestly, this season has gone so fast. I’m excited to see how conference play unfolds across the country, and we will have no shortage of things to talk about as January and February plays out.

I put together a Top 25 ranking this weekend, just to see where I was on several of these teams as we enter a huge week of non-conference matchups. Next week, we’re back to submitting official Top 25 ballots for the D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll, so expect a new Top 25 next Monday. Until then, here’s how I’m seeing the national landscape of D3 women’s basketball! I kept my thoughts to more of minimum this week, but hopefully some of it provides good insight and reasoning behind why some of these teams are where they are within my Top 25.

  1. NYU: Nothing has changed here. We’ll see how NYU looks coming out of a long break and playing on the West Coast this week against UC-Santa Cruz and UW-Platteville, but the Violets have continually earned the top spot in my ballot. UAA play will be the real test.
  2. Transylvania: A close second, the defending national champions look to be playing the best defense in the entire country. Opponents simply can’t score on the Pioneers. Last week against Bluffton in HCAC play, Transy held the Beavers to four straight single-digit quarters in a 75-29 win. The last time this season that Transy allowed more than 50 points in a game? Nov. 12 against DePauw. And they allowed exactly 50 in that one. Record watch: The D-III record for scoring defense in a season was set by New Rochelle in ‘99…that season, New Rochelle allowed an average of 39.2 points per game. The Pioneers currently sit at 41.3 points per game. I should note that it is much tougher to maintain that average come NCAA tournament time, and yes, postseason games do factor into the final total when it comes to records and such. But it just puts into perspective how strong the Transylvania defense has been so far.
  3. UW-Whitewater: This was a tough selection in terms of keeping Rhode Island College behind UW-Whitewater, but when you look at the numbers and watch the film, I think the Warhawks win out narrowly. RIC came up with a huge win over Gustavus Adolphus last week, but UWW had a really solid win of its own, defeating Messiah 62-36 in Puerto Rico. That came a day after beating Manhattanville, 70-35. Messiah was held to just 13 points in the entire second half of that game, a further sign that UWW’s defense is really coming alive. That is especially timely, with WIAC play tipping off in about a week. This UWW team is Final Four-caliber, no doubt.
  4. Rhode Island College: Based on what I saw from the win over Gustavus Adolphus, I’d say RIC is very much in the conversation for another big run to the Final Four, but this year, the Anchorwomen won’t surprise many. The level RIC has been playing at is incredible, and just watching the film from the neutral court win over Gustavus, RIC’s defensive pressure against an extremely dangerous and balanced Gustie offense really stuck out. And RIC also beat Baldwin Wallace handily while in Florida, which is a great win that adds a little bit to the resume.
  5. Scranton: The Lady Royals have a key test upcoming against Elizabethtown on Jan. 3 and picked up a key road win in overtime against #18 DeSales last week that should prove impactful on Scranton’s resume. Scranton has found different ways to win throughout this season, and that is a valuable attribute. D-I transfer Victoria Toomey continues to be an impact transfer for the Lady Royals and has done a good job of giving Scranton an edge in the post. My Top 6 teams are all undefeated, and the margin between 4-6 is very minimal.
  6. Christopher Newport: Again, the margin between Scranton and CNU is extremely narrow. Grove City challenged the Captains a little more than I would’ve anticipated in the first game of last week’s Music City Classic, but then again, it was the first game of the event, and played not long after a lengthy bus trip to Tennessee. The win over Whitman was especially impressive, considering Whitman looked like the better team for the entire first 10 minutes before CNU turned the momentum and took charge. The 70-61 victory is CNU’s best win to date, and the Captains hold steady at #6.
  7. Illinois Wesleyan: The Titans continue to climb in my rankings, with a seven-game win streak heading into Friday’s matchup at Hendrix. As I’ve said before, the fact that IWU has won (and won convincingly in multiple cases) against good competition without a completely healthy roster is a major point in the Titans’ favor. Once Lauren Huber is back on the floor, this team will only be more dangerous. The offensive schemes are polished, and this is a program that has long taken pride in tenacious defense. We saw that in the win at Chicago, and with the way IWU has performed as of late, I’d put them up against anyone in the country. In my eyes, and with what we’ve seen recently, this is a Top 10 team…no doubt about it.
  8. Gustavus Adolphus: A loss to RIC does not do much to hurt the Gusties’ resume in my opinion. It was a competitive game, and RIC has proven to a Top-5 team consistently so far. Gustavus is still very much in the national title conversation in my opinion, and it won’t surprise me in the slightest if they run the table in the MIAC and go undefeated in league play once again this season.
  9. Hope: The Flying Dutch have proven to be a top-tier team for the better part of this season. Starting with the IWU and UW-Platteville wins in mid-November, and leading up through the big victory over Millikin last Wednesday, Hope continues to impress. The Flying Dutch are 10-1, and I honestly didn’t think I’d have Hope in the Top 10 before New Year’s Day. But here we are.
  10. Wartburg: Whitman took down the Knights by a fairly significant margin at the Music City Classic, and that forced me to move Wartburg down a little bit. But not out of the Top 10. We saw them defeat a fairly strong DePauw team the next day, 89-40, and if anything, that result proved the loss to Whitman was more of a combination of Whitman being better than expected and Wartburg having a tough afternoon. Wartburg is very much a top-caliber team and I’ll be interested to see if we get a Wartburg/WashU matchup in the championship game of the Wartburg Holiday Tournament on Saturday. That’ll be one more great non-conference test for the Knights before ARC play resumes.
  11. Emory: I really like the Eagles’ chances to have a big year in the UAA. Claire Brock and Daniella Aronsky are two of the best players in the league and we shall see how Emory fares against a strong Hardin-Simmons squad in Atlanta later this week. That’ll be a great test, and unlike the CNU game earlier this year, Emory should have Brock available, which will make a difference. UAA play is right around the corner!
  12. Millikin: Losing to Hope in Holland is not going to damage Millikin’s resume all that much. From a Top 25 perspective, Millikin battled through all four quarters, and it was competitive all the way through. Elyce Knudsen is undoubtedly one of the most electrifying players in the country, and what she can do with the ball in her hands is amazing. Bailey Coffman continues to be a force there in the post, and Millikin has plenty of contributors stepping up around those two. The Big Blue is 9-2, and amongst Millikin’s nine victories are wins over DePauw and UW-Platteville, both of which really boost the resume.
  13. UW-Stout: Another team that makes a big jump forwards. At this point, Stout has shown it has all the pieces to compete on a national level, and the guard play we’ve seen from the Blue Devils has been nothing short of incredible. This team is very dangerous from 3-point range, and is efficient on the offensive end, which will yield good results in WIAC play. The Blue Devils battle Augsburg on Saturday before getting into WIAC play. Whether this high ranking holds up or not remains to be seen, but I am very confident in putting Stout at #13, based on the film I’ve watched, and comparing what I’ve seen to the other handful of teams that are realistically of Top 25 caliber.
  14. Smith: 7-1 with a handful of quality victories, Smith hasn’t played since Dec. 9. The Pioneers are back in action on Saturday, and NEWMAC play tips off in early January. That will be the big test for Smith. So far, I think this continues to be a team that has exceeded expectations, and I think a lot of that goes back to how balanced the Pioneers are offensively. They’ve scored 60+ points in all eight games, which is not something always seen amongst top teams in the northeast region of the country.
  15. Hardin-Simmons: As previously mentioned, HSU is prepping for a big test at Emory on Saturday. Overall, the Cowgirls have largely played at the high level we anticipated they would, and in a lot of ways, a tremendous amount of credit should go towards HSU’s strong senior class. Their leadership seems to have been instrumental in the early part of the season, especially coming off the disappointing loss at ETBU. HSU is 10-1, and has won its last five, including a quality win over UT-Dallas at the very beginning of last week. The ASC is going to be an exciting conference race to follow as the rest of the season plays out.
  16. Chicago: The Maroons are 7-2 and they don’t have a bad loss, having come up short in games against UW-Whitewater and Illinois Wesleyan heading into the holiday break. The 74-68 overtime win over Carroll remains Chicago’s “best” result (in my opinion), but the Maroons have a great opportunity at two RRO victories on Friday and Saturday. Their resume could easily skyrocket if they manage to go 2-0 against Johns Hopkins and Bowdoin at another edition of the Music City Classic in Nashville.
  17. Amherst: Amherst is one of the tougher teams to judge and rank, considering the Mammoths haven’t yet played a Top 100 team. But they are 7-0 and playing at the level I expected they would, having brought everyone back from last year’s squad. Kori Barach leads the team in both scoring and rebounding, and is following up well on her stellar sophomore season in 2022-23. Definitely a player to watch once NESCAC play tips off.
  18. Johns Hopkins: The Blue Jays play in a very competitive Centennial Conference and already faced #1 NYU, so JHU knows what playing tough opponents is all about. This matchup against Chicago on Friday is especially timely considering it is a mid-season game, rather than a season-opening weekend contest like NYU was. And in a region that has Scranton, Elizabethtown, Catholic, Gettysburg, and Messiah, JHU needs every potential RRO win that it can get. The Blue Jays are 8-1, having won their last seven, and are coming off a 20-day holiday break. With their body of work so far, including wins over WashU, Marymount, and Gettysburg (along with what I’ve see from an eye test perspective), JHU definitely belongs in the Top 20 for the time being.
  19. Whitman: I was skeptical of Whitman early, but watching the Blues defeat Wartburg how they did, and battle CNU all the way through, my skepticism was clearly a bit presumptuous. The loss to Willamette back on Dec. 2 still doesn’t look great on the resume, but neither does HSU’s loss to ETBU, or Smith’s loss to Mass.-Dartmouth. Whitman holds quality wins over Pacific, Colorado College, and Wartburg at this point, which should yield at least two RRO wins for the Blues. Schematically, Whitman has been very effective when it comes to passing on offense, with good reads and well-timed passes to the post. The Blues have also been pretty consistent with their offensive rebounding, and those second-chance opportunities are huge, especially in tight games.
  20. Bowdoin: A four-point loss to what is a very good Whittier team remains Bowdoin’s only blemish, as the Polar Bears are 8-1 with wins over Springfield, Bates, and Colby. Facing Chicago on Saturday will be Bowdoin’s toughest opponent yet, and I’m excited for that one. This team is led by Sydney Jones, a junior guard who seems to make plays left and right for Bowdoin on both ends of the floor, as she averages 14.2 points and 6.2 rebounds per game. Bowdoin has used the same starting five for all nine games this season, and there is a sense of chemistry and cohesiveness seen when watching the Polar Bears play. I would guess that consistency in the starting lineup has something to do with it.
  21. Trinity (TX): Depth is the concerning aspect of things with Trinity, and it was evident in the Tigers’ two losses in Oregon against Willamette and Puget Sound last week. Injuries certainly factored into that, with Natalie Anderson being unavailable for both games, and Maggie Robbins playing sparingly against Willamette and not at all against Puget Sound. Ava Limoncello played sparingly in both games as she came off an injury suffered against Southwestern on Dec. 2. So the impact of those injuries cannot be overstated. At the end of the day, Trinity is 8-3 with losses to really strong teams, but the performance we saw on the West Coast certainly hurt the Tigers’ Top 25 standing. We’ll see what the D3hoops.com Classic brings, as Trinity faces Ohio Northern and Framingham State on consecutive days.
  22. Trine: The Thunder are 8-2 and much like in past years, it seems the MIAA title will come down to Hope or Trine. Having watched Trine battle UW-Stout so closely, and beat Ohio Northern on the road, the Thunder are clearly playing at a Top 25 level. Early on, that was a little tougher to see, but as the season progresses, Trine is definitely solidifying itself within these rankings. Two challenging non-conference duels are on tap for the Thunder against Carnegie Mellon and Gettysburg later this week.
  23. Mary Hardin-Baylor: The Cru is 11-1 under Katie Novak-Lenoir, in her first year as head coach of the program, and currently holds an 11-game win streak after beating Berry and Millsaps in New York City. Playing with pace and rebounding incredibly well, UMHB is playing at a very high level right now. The Crusaders’ only loss came against Trinity (TX) in the season opener, and was a game that saw UMHB hold a 10-point second-half lead, only for Trinity to mount an incredible comeback and steal the win. Again, keep an eye on the ASC title race. Between UMHB, HSU, and McMurry, it will be an exciting league to watch in Region 10.
  24. DeSales: The Bulldogs continue to win with great defense, as per usual, and taking Scranton into OT was a point in their favor. They slowed down the Scranton scoring attack, and previous to that, beat Messiah by 20 in an impressive victory. DeSales is 7-2 and has a very tough start to MACF play, so keep an eye on these next few weeks for DeSales. The Bulldogs face Arcadia, Lebanon Valley, and Stevens by mid-January. All three have a legitimate shot to be regionally-ranked.
  25. Loras: The Duhawks slid into the #25 spot, and it wasn’t easy. Tufts, Elizabethtown, Webster, Catholic, and Trinity (CT) were all very much in the mix for #25, but Loras ultimately won out. 8-2 overall with a recent win over Elizabethtown in Puerto Rico looks pretty good, and the 51-36 victory over Coe back on Nov. 21 is even stronger now that Coe is off to a 10-2 start. The win over Elizabethtown showcased Loras’ offensive strengths, as the Duhawks shot 50.9 percent from the field, had 36 points in the paint, and Silvana Scarsella scored 30. If Loras can keep that kind of offensive rhythm going into ARC play, the Duhawks will be tough to beat.

The Scoop on D3 Women’s Hoops: Previewing today’s must-see matchups

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December 9, 2023

Riley Zayas

We’ve arrived at the final big-time slate of games until we reach the final couple days of December. A large number of programs will take a break from games for finals and the holidays after this, so this is the last opportunity we have to see several of these top-tier programs in action for a couple of weeks.

Taking a look at the schedule, 19 members of the D3hoops.com Top 25 are in action today, and we have a number of pretty intriguing matchups, even in games involving one ranked team and one unranked team. So here are a few games that stick out to me on today’s slate, with tip-off times listed in eastern time. and rankings from the D3hoops.com Top 25 listed (when applicable) in front of the team’s name.

Messiah at #22 Mary Washington | 1:00 p.m. | Messiah struggled earlier this week against DeSales, but has a great opportunity to get back in the win column against a talented Mary Washington squad. Led by versatile guard/forward Jordan Carpenter, Mary Washington is 7-1, with the only hiccup having come in an overtime loss to Randolph-Macon. Last Saturday’s 67-60 win over Marymount was a notable victory for the Eagles, but perhaps Messiah would end up being a better quality win when this season is all said and done. Mary Washington still doesn’t have a strong win on its resume up to this point, which is one of the reasons I have not had them on my Top 25 ballot. Messiah will certainly be a good test, and Messiah comes into this game with a 5-2 mark. The Falcons will need a solid defensive effort to pick up a road win here, and they are certainly capable of that. Excited for this one.

Univ. of New England at Bates | 1:00 p.m. | Bates has been really impressive out of the gate, as the Bobcats are 7-1. They struggled against Bowdoin on Monday, but bounced back to edge a good Colby team (who has beaten Babson and MIT), 55-54, on Wednesday. UNE is 6-3, and has been inconsistent throughout those first nine games, with some very favorable wins and a couple of not-so-great losses. So I don’t know what to expect from this one. Interesting factoid for you, though…these two teams have played 10 times since the 2009-10 season…and never has one team won consecutive meetings. Bates won in OT, 86-85, the last time they played in 2018-19, so UNE is a due for a win this time around!

Dickinson at Johns Hopkins | 2:00 p.m. | I had JHU in my Top 25 this past week, and have been really impressed by the Blue Jays’ start to the season, with a 7-1 record and wins over WashU, Marymount, and Gettysburg. But Dickinson has also shown some really good stuff in this early part of the schedule, having battled Elizabethtown well in the season opener, and beaten Muhlenberg (who previously beat DeSales) on the road, 51-44. I know Dickinson didn’t look very good against Gettysburg earlier this week, but don’t count the Red Devils out. They have an effective defensive approach that should challenge JHU a little bit, especially in the opening two quarters.

Ithaca at SUNY New Paltz | 2:00 p.m. | Wanted to quickly mention this one, as it is a Region 3 matchup that could have some interesting regional ranking implications. Head-to-head wins in-region are very valuable, and both Ithaca and New Paltz have an opportunity for a H2H win over the other this afternoon. Ithaca is off to a 6-2 start, but really doesn’t have a top-quality win on its resume yet. And New Paltz is 5-1, with a notable win over Vassar (who beat Ithaca, 76-68, not too long after losing to New Paltz).

#16 Tufts at #1 NYU | 3:00 p.m. | NYU has been pretty much everything we expected the Violets to be, with incredible depth, talent, and significant margins of victory. But Tufts is the toughest opponent NYU has faced as of yet. The Violets dispatched MIT and Johns Hopkins fairly convincingly, so they have that in their favor, but Tufts matches up better against NYU in my opinion. Maggie Russell is fantastic, especially on the offensive end, but Samantha Sousa has really stepped up and is averaging 13.3 points per game right now. Sofia Gonzalez is another strong contributor, and between Sousa and Gonzalez at guard and Russell at forward, NYU will have its hands full on the defensive end. NYU certainly has enough depth to beat pretty much anybody in the country, but All-America transfer Morgan Morrison did not play against Connecticut College last Sunday, so keep an eye on her status. She has the ability to completely change a game, and if she is available, the Violets become even more of a favorite to win this matchup. Really excited to see how this one unfolds!

#9 Millikin at Carroll | 3:00 p.m. | The CCIW is a fantastic league this season, and Millikin has been so impressive, especially offensively, thus far. Led by Elyce Knudsen (27.4 PPG), this is a Millikin team that is really tough to slow down considering the depth and efficiency with which they play. But Carroll took Chicago in OT and competed well with UW-Whitewater earlier in the year, and averages 13.7 steals per game on the defensive end. I wouldn’t count the Pioneers out, though I certainly think Millikin is playing at an incredibly high level right now.

MIT at #13 Trinity (CT) | 3:30 p.m. | Trinity took a tough loss on Thursday to Roger Williams, but the Bantams are back on their home court and have a chance to head into their winter break on a high note. MIT really showed us what it could do against another high-level opponent last week, winning 66-63 at Tufts. That was huge for the Engineers’ overall resume at this point, and the question will be if they can carry that momentum with them on the road again, facing another nationally-ranked opponent. MIT entered this season with the potential for a strong year and is 5-2 at this point. A win over Trinity just might put MIT into the Top 25, but Trinity isn’t going to let that happen easily. Head coach Emily Garner will have her squad ready, and with the experience on this roster, the Bantams know how to win big games. I won’t be surprised if this one comes down to the final minute or so.

Colorado College at #23 Whitman | 7:00 p.m. | For Whitman to stay in the Top 25, this is a must-win game. And Colorado College is the toughest opponent the Blues have faced. This is a game on Whitman’s home court, but Colorado College, as one of the most remote schools in D-III (as far as proximity to other D-III programs goes) is no stranger to winning on the road. The only two losses the Tigers have suffered this season came against NYU and Tufts on a trip to the northeast, and I would expect that those matchups have helped CC identify some of its weaknesses and correct those moving forwards. The Tigers have one of the most effective post players in the country in Zoë Tomlinson (16.6 PPG, 12.3 RPG), which should aid in the effort. Whitman looked really sharp against Schreiner last night, winning in commanding fashion, 90-44. We’ll see if they can carry that momentum into tonight’s matchup. The Blues are 6-1 overall and certainly the frontrunner to claim the NWC title in a very competitive league up in the northwest.

As a quick reminder, you can find the complete schedule for today’s contests (along with links to the live stats/livestreams) on D3hoops.com.

The Scoop on D3 Women’s Hoops: IWU made a statement at Wheaton

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December 7, 2023

By Riley Zayas

Any question marks still remaining about Illinois Wesleyan’s belonging in the Top 25 were quickly erased on Wednesday night. The Titans went to Wheaton, a quality CCIW program who started the season especially strong, and made a complete statement, running away with a 74-49 victory behind a surge in the second and third quarters.

Holding Wheaton, who has an All-America caliber guard in Annie Tate, to just 49 points is incredibly impressive. The Thunder hung with the Titans for the first quarter, as IWU led 19-17 after 10 minutes, but over the next 20 minutes, Wheaton tallied just 20 points, struggling as IWU stepped up its defensive pressure. The Titans are known for their full-court pressure, and it proved especially impactful in this road victory, as IWU forced 26 turnovers, leading to 30 points. And conversely, the Titans took care of the ball especially well, with just 13 turnovers.

This was a performance worthy of recognition, because more than just the final numbers, IWU played with such an intensity and cohesiveness that was evident watching the game unfold. As I posted on X/Twitter last night, IWU is a Top 15 team right now, in my opinion. The Titans’ two losses came at Hope (by 7) and vs UW-Whitewater (by 2). Along with that, according to D3 WBB stats guru Scott Peterson, Wheaton is currently projected to have a good shot at being regionally-ranked, which gives IWU yet another RRO win. He noted that according to his numbers, IWU now has the third-most RRO wins in the nation, at 3.1. Very impressive.

When you consider they have played the last two games without standout guard Lauren Huber, that makes yesterday night’s win and the Carroll win all the more notable. Ava Bardic did return to the court against Wheaton, which was great to see, after she suffered a non-contact knee injury against Elmhurst on Nov. 30. Bardic contributed with seven points and three assists in 17 minutes, and Kate Palmer had another outstanding performance, leading the Titans with 18 points. Mallory Powers added 16, and Sara Balli had 12 off the bench. And it is more than just the scoring, too.

The defensive communication is top-notch, which will keep IWU in games throughout this season whether the Titans shoot the ball well or not, and that obviously proves invaluable because cold shooting days will happen. That said, the depth on this roster allows for anybody to step up as the leading scorer on any given night, and so far, IWU has had that. This rotation is playing at such a high level right now. Circle Dec. 16 on your calendars, because that will be a must-see matchup as IWU makes the trip to play Chicago in what should be a Top 25 duel. Big-time Region 8 matchup there.

DeSales’ defensive effort gives way to Bulldogs’ seventh straight win

Moving on…I thought DeSales was another team who did a fantastic job on the defensive end yesterday (no surprise there!) against Messiah. The Bulldogs pulled out a 64-46 victory, winning their seventh straight. While Messiah shot 42% from the field, DeSales completely kept Messiah off of the offensive boards, as Messiah tallied just three offensive rebounds and zero second-chance points. I thought DeSales’ full-court press was extremely effective against Messiah, as it challenged the Falcons in bringing the ball up the court in transition. Messiah turned the ball over 16 times leading to 17 points for DeSales. Key stat right there.

Gettysburg dominates in 30-point win over Dickinson in Centennial Conference

Gettysburg added another big win to its resume, taking down Dickinson in Centennial Conference play, as the Bullets improved to 6-2. Gettysburg jumped out to a 23-9 run and closed the game on an 18-7 run, leading to the Bullets’ 68-38 victory. I thought the offensive rhythm was outstanding, as Gettysburg shot 49.1% and was 9-of-19 from 3-point range. Considering the way Dickinson has been playing so far this season (which includes beating Messiah), a 30-point victory is huge.

Marymount gets past Randolph-Macon in key victory for the Saints

Marymount also scored a big win, defeating Randolph-Macon, 56-48, who was 6-3 overall. The Saints outrebounded RMC by 12, 35-23, which was key in this victory, including 11-3 on the offensive boards. Marymount’s critical stretch came in the third quarter, as the Saints opened the second half by outscoring RMC 23-14. This was a game Marymount really had to win and it was great to them pull out that victory, especially against a team that should be pretty competitive in the ODAC this season.

Kranson comes through with career day for Scranton

Kaci Kranson came through with 33 points in #6 Scranton’s 87-47 win over Drew, as the sophomore posted an outstanding stat line. She shot 13-of-19 from the field, 3-of-4 from 3-point range, grabbed nine rebounds (5 offensive), dished out two assists, and tallied three steals. Incredible effort both ends of the floor…just had to make sure I mentioned that stat line! Even in a one-sided win, scoring 33 is still pretty impressive.

Vassar notches key Liberty League win over Skidmore

Vassar defeated Skidmore, 64-51, in a game that could absolutely come into play come NCAA Tournament time, as those two are just behind Ithaca in the Liberty League title race. In the case that Ithaca gets the Pool A, the Liberty League has a good chance to put either Vassar or Skidmore in the tournament, but not both. This is likely a two-bid league, which made last night’s matchup all the more meaningful. Obviously, they’ll meet again in conference play, on Jan. 9, but Vassar looked fantastic, and likely picked up an RRO win in the process. It was the 19-9 start that really put Vassar in a position to control the game for the next three quarters, and while it was competitive throughout, Vassar separated itself as the better team on the court last night. Sierra McDermed posted a 20-point, 10-rebound double-double for Vassar as all five Vassar starters played at least 30 minutes. Not sure about the depth on the roster for them, but the starting five looked really strong against a talented Skidmore team.

Gerig scores 43 in an outstanding performance, but Smith takes down Williams, 76-68

I’ll wrap this up by congratulating Smith on getting past Williams, because Williams is increasingly getting better and better as the weeks progress. #10 Smith emerged with a 76-68 win last night over Williams and we were treated to some high-scoring individual performances. Arianna Gerig was fantastic for Williams, scoring 43 points on a 17-of-29 shooting day. On the other side, Sofia Rosa had 25 points and 10 boards for Smith, and Ally Yamada added 20 points for the Pioneers in the win. It was a well-played contest and Smith continues to win games against quality non-conference teams. While I was a little unsure of what we’d see from Smith this season, Rosa has made an immediate impact and overall, the Pioneers have several talented contributors who have stepped up. Smith is now 6-1 overall.

Games to watch today (all tip-off times are eastern)

#13 Trinity (CT) at Roger Williams, 7:00 p.m.—Trinity is the favorite here, but RWU could stay competitive. RWU beat Babson earlier in the year, and has won four straight coming into this one.

Maine Maritime at Husson, 7:30 p.m.—Conference games seem to bring out the best in teams, and both Maine Maritime and Husson have begun NAC play with wins. These two are likely to be in the hunt for the conference title later in the season, and this is definitely a game I see being decided late.