Losses by Lubbock Christian, Gannon and Coker led to a shakeup in the latest DII women’s basketball Power 10 rankings. That said, Grand Valley State and Minnesota State remained locked in at No. 1 and No. 2 while nearly everyone else slightly shifted.
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As a reminder, these Power 10 rankings are solely mine. There is no voting body or the NCAA selection committee; it is simply an attempt at a ranking that falls between the national polls and regional rankings. I no longer rely on KPI as a deciding factor, as (for one of several reasons) and I will be using Inkblot Sports RPI more strongly moving forward.
The DII women’s basketball Power 10 (through Jan. 18)
No. 1 Grand Valley State | Previous: 1. The Lakers have now won 28 games in a row, with their last DII loss coming on Feb. 15 in two-point fashion to Parkside. You have to go back to March 18, 2024, for their last home loss, a three-point thriller to Ferris State in the Midwest Region championship game. The Lakers have a suffocating defense that allows just 52.9 points per game which is backed by a steady offense that allows them to win games by 29.0 points per game. Grand Valley State is rolling.
No. 2 Minnesota State | Previous: 2. The Mavericks had a small scare, sneaking past Minnesota Duluth 81-78 in their closest victory of the season. Quite honestly, it was the first time anyone even challenged this offense, as the Mavs rebounded with a 25-point win the very next night. This is the top scoring offense in DII, piling on 95.8 points per game, winning games by an average of nearly 30 points. Natalie Bremer is a player-of-the-year candidate.
No. 3 West Texas A&M | Previous: 4. Not to sound like a broken record, but if you take away the opening night loss to Grand Valley State, this team is easily undefeated right now. The Buffs have won 17 in a row and that includes wins against Colorado Mesa, St. Mary’s (TX) and Lubbock Christian, two of which have been Power 10 teams. They have a nice balance on offense and what is proving to be a pretty tough defense, having not allowed more than 65 points since Nov. 20. With the win over Colorado Mesa, we are looking at the current top team in a very deep South Central Region.
No. 4 Indiana (PA) | Previous: 5. The Crimson Hawks are one of the four remaining unbeatens, moving to 15-0 with a gritty 68-63 win over then-No. 3 Gannon. The name of the game for the Hawks is defense, allowing just 51.8 points per game. Nyshae’ Weaver is putting herself in the player-of-the-year conversation with two double doubles in her previous three games and nightly averages of 16.0 points and 9.0 rebounds. This team is deep, and with that defense, they have proven they can beat anyone in the Atlantic Region, now owning the top RPI and spot in the region.
No. 5 Nova Southeastern | Previous: 10 (tied). The Sharks remain undefeated, now a perfect 17-0. I am still a little hesitant to have them this high as they have played the lowest strength of schedule of any team under consideration for the Power 10 (just a .433 opponents’ winning percentage). Still, we are closer to the end of the season than the start, so being undefeated says quite a bit.
No. 6 Colorado Mesa | Previous: 10 (tied). The Mavericks are now 18-1 and winners of 15 in a row. They have the top RPI in what could arguably be the toughest region this year. The Mavs have one of the toughest defenses in DII (52.8 points allowed per game) and are winning games by an average margin of 22.7 points. Olivia Reed Thyne is, and has been for four years, one of the best players in all DII. The Mavs are rumbling, have a four-game lead in the RMAC and should be able to run away with the conference.
No. 7 Fort Hays State | Previous: 9. A three-point loss to Washburn is all that separates the Tigers from a perfect season. They are the top team in the MIAA and with a big 18-point win over Pittsburg State in December, sit in the driver’s seat for now. Talexa Weeter continues to lead DII in scoring by a wide margin (28.2 points per game), has no fewer than 17 points in a game all season, and has eclipsed 30 points seven times this season. Having someone that can take over a game like that goes a long way come tourney time.
No. 8 Texas Woman’s | Previous: 8. I was debating on whether Texas Woman’s or Lubbock Christian would be this high, and simply put, there was just too much in Pioneers favor. They have a higher RPI and strength of schedule, as well as only one loss to Lubbock’s three. They have won 14 in a row and are a perfect 9-0 in the LSC. Now, they haven’t played Lubbock Christian or West Texas A&M yet, so there is a long way to go, but a third-straight 30-plus win season appears to be on the horizon.
No. 9 Gannon | Previous: 3. Gannon suffered a big loss this week, but it was to a Power 10 team and kept it competitive and close, so the Golden Knights don’t fall too far. The way this team plays defense should help them reach 30 wins and the tournament, but they are now No. 2 in the Atlantic with the loss to IUP. Still, this team is balanced and among the very best in DII right now.
No. 10 Central Washington | Previous: Also considered. With Coker picking up its second loss, this spot came down to a pair of West Region powers. The Wildcats barely eked it out past Cal Poly Pomona, and there are a few reasons why. One, Central Washington has the top RPI in the West per Inkblot. They also have a better offense and one of the best scorers DII has to offer in Asher Cal, who has scored at least 21 points in six of her last seven games. They have played a much tougher schedule than the Broncos, and have not one, but two of the best rebounders in DII in Fiona Snashall and Capri Sims, who each have seven double doubles on the year. This team looks loaded right now.
Also considered (in alphabetical order): Bentley, Cal Poly Pomona, Coker, Daemen, Fairmont State, Harding, Lubbock Christian, Northwestern Oklahoma State, Pittsburg State, Saint Anselm
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