Catching up on the top 25 DII women's basketball teams

The first half of the DII women's basketball season is nearing its end as we head towards the holiday break. Last year's national champion and runner-up — Minnesota State and Texas Woman's — are right there in the mix of things. There are still 12 undefeated teams and a slew of them are naturally in the top 25.

Let's take a look at what the top 25 looks like as of the . 

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The usual suspects

Prior to the start of the season, one of my previews focused on 13 teams to watch. Minnesota State, Ashland, Grand Valley State, Tampa, Gannon and Azusa Pacific were labeled "the usual suspects," and considered contenders for the DII Women's Elite Eight because of years of consistency and a bevy of returners. 

So, how are they doing? Grand Valley State is the cream of the crop, sitting at 11-0 against DII competition and No. 1 in DII women's basketball. As seemingly always, this team is predicated on a smothering defense — and its 48.9 points allowed per game is top 3 in DII. The Lakers are also scoring more than 83 points per game, considerably higher than they averaged over the previous five seasons. It is no doubt the result of all this starting experience gelling together. What's most impressive, you ask? The Lakers have done all this against the toughest strength of schedule in DII women's basketball. 

The defending champs, Minnesota State, are cooking now that conference play has started. The Mavs are 9-2 overall, but 5-0 in the NSIC, and scoring a ton of points in the process. Their 89.7 points per game are second-most in DII. Natalie Bremer leads the way, averaging 21.8 points per game, while Destinee Bursch shares the scoring duties with 17.7.

Gannon is off to a 12-1 start and sits at No. 4. One year after reaching the DII Women's Elite Eight, the Golden Knights are well on their way to another 25-win season — a mark that typically gets you in the DII women's basketball championship in the Atlantic. Bri Claxon leads the way with 17.5 points per game. 

Tampa is doing Tampa things as usual, off to a 9-2 start, with one of those losses coming by a game-winning shot as time expired to UMary. Center Zoe Piller has been strong, averaging 19.2 points per game on nearly 62 percent shooting while adding 8.3 rebounds per game. Ashland already has three losses, which is wild this early in the season, but are still every bit of a top 25 team as there is. While the Eagles do have a loss to Grand Valley State (who doesn't?) they have taken down nationally ranked Union (TN) and Ferris State. It seems like they are gelling, especially Hayley Smith who is averaging a double-double a night with 11.7 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. They'll need it as they face a pair of undefeateds in Indiana (PA) and Northern Michigan this week. And that leaves Azusa Pacific, who is creeping towards the top 10 at No. 11. The Cougars are just a model of consistency, off to another strong start and sitting at 9-1, which includes a 25-point opening night win over nationally ranked Cal Poly Pomona. Four of their starting five average double figures in scoring as this is once again such a balanced, deep squad. 

Surprise, surprise

Well, hello Seton Hill. The Griffins are 10-0 and for the first time in program history, have cracked the top 25 in both national polls. They currently sit at No. 14 in the WBCA poll and continue to climb. Seton Hill has a bevy of scorers and Christiane Frye, Helene Cowan, Mia Kalich and Hallie Cowan all average at least 12.5 points per game. Kalich has been one of the better all-around players in DII, adding 9.3 rebounds and 4.0 steals per game. The sophomore forward has posted double-doubles in three of her last four games and has won the PSAC West defensive player of the week three times already in 2024. 

Concordia-St. Paul is off and running, sitting at 11-0 and No. 13 in the WBCA poll. It is the Golden Bears' best start since the 2009-10 season and the first time in the national rankings since the 2014-15 season. Lindsay Becher has been on a tear, posting nightly averages of 15.0 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game en route to multiple NSIC player of the week awards. Her 8.6 rebounds are tops in the conference and her blocking skills help power the NSIC's second-best scoring defense. A showdown with the defending national champs awaits this week.

Cal State Dominguez Hills went from the DII Women's Elite Eight in 2022-23 to a 14-14 team last year. The Toros have nearly matched the 2023-24 win total 10 games in with their impressive 10-0 start. They are up to No. 9 in the poll and have a matchup against undefeated Central Washington this week. Nala Williams and Asia Jordan are a dynamic scoring duo, contributing 31.6 points per game, but it is their defense — a top-five scoring defense in DII — that propels their success.

No surprises here

Lubbock Christian is in the top 10... and water is wet. The Chaps sit at 10-1 after a down year for them. Of course, a down year equated to a 21-win season and yet another entry into the DII women's basketball championship. Grace Foster continues to be one of the very best in DII, averaging 18.8 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. 

That one loss the Chaps have came at the hands of Texas Woman's. The defending national runners-up haven't missed a beat, now 9-1 on the season and No. 2 in the division. Ashley Ingram continues to be a force, averaging 14.5 points and 7.8 rebounds per game. 

Earlier in the preseason, I mentioned how MSU Billings looked like a strong DII Women's Elite Eight contender, and thus far, the Yellowjackets have looked the part. They are currently 11-1 with a big game against nationally ranked Cal Poly Pomona on the slate this week. Aspen Giese and Dyauni Boyce have been solid, each averaging more than 13 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. 

Odds and ends

The MIAA is going to be one to watch this year as both Fort Hays State and Pittsburg State are in the top 10. The Tigers head to Hawaii for their holiday invitational while the Gorillas are Florida bound, where they will face a very good Nova Southeastern team as part of their holiday tourney. 

North Georgia had a very un-North Georgia season last year. The Nighthawks finished with just 17 wins, the fewest since 2016, and missed the tournament for the first time in six seasons. They are off to a hot start, now 9-0 and have a big showdown with Carson-Newman before the break. Per usual, Carson-Newman looks tough, sitting at 9-1 and No. 10 in DII, so this may be a preview of things to come in the Southeast Region this March. 

UT Tyler is building quite the resume. At 8-1, the Patriots have wins over Texas Woman's and CSU Pueblo and have a big weekend ahead against MSU Billings and undefeated Embry-Riddle in Las Vegas. If this team wants to make a statement heading into the new year, this is a prime opportunity. 

Union (TN) and Bentley are in the top 25 because of course they are. I started covering DII women's basketball in the 2015-16 season, and the only time that Bentley missed the DII tournament since then was in the 2021 season that had a smaller bracket due to COVID restrictions. Union (TN) has made the tournament seven seasons in a row and has appeared in the top 25 in every week of the past three seasons. That streak doesn't appear in jeopardy any time soon. 

The quest for perfection

Here is a list of the undefeated teams remaining in DII women's basketball as of Dec. 15. It is important to note that technically, Grand Valley State is now 11-1; however, the Lakers played Tuesday, Dec. 17 against undefeated Ohio State, which is No. 11 in Division I. Though the Lakers can't finish undefeated, they can still run their DII table, which is all that matters to the selection committee in March.