AMHERST, N.Y. — Daemen women's basketball has moved up to #13 in the latest Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) NCAA Division II Coaches' Poll.

The Wildcats are ranked for the fifth consecutive week and the sixth time this season, moving up from last week's #16 ranking. It is the program's second-highest ranking since April 2024, when they were ranked #12. 

Daemen currently holds a 17-2 record, including a 10-0 ECC mark. The Wildcats most recently earned another conference win, cruising past Roberts Wesleyan 86-49, to remain undefeated in ECC play and extend their streak to eight games. It marks the second straight season that Daemen has started conference action 10-0.

The Wildcats are 8-1 at home, 7-0 on the road, and 2-1 in neutral-site contests. The team is also 2-1 against nationally ranked opponents, with wins over #24 Holy Family (66-61) and #18 Bentley (75-62) and a loss against #5 Gannon (57-50).

Daemen's victory last Saturday completed an undefeated January (8-0), with additional ECC wins over D'Youville (63-45), Molloy (73-60), Queens (81-43), Staten Island (78-52), and the University of the District of Columbia (67-54). The Wildcats logged their second win over a nationally ranked opponent on Jan. 1, defeating #18 Bentley, 75-62. Daemen then beat Franklin Pierce 76-42 two days later, wrapping up its non-conference slate. 

The Wildcats defeated Texas A&M Kingsville 80-75 in overtime at the Holiday Hoops Classic in Las Vegas, Nev., on Dec. 20. Daemen completed a 4-0 stretch to start ECC play in December, defeating St. Thomas Aquinas, Mercy, Molloy, and Queens. 

Earlier in non-conference action, Daemen earned a 66-61 victory over #24 nationally ranked Holy Family on Nov. 30. The Wildcats also defeated Chestnut Hill, Goldey-Beacom, and Wilmington.
Daemen is led offensively by Ne'vaeh Buntley (Rochester, N.Y.), who averages 15.9 points per game and 5.4 rebounds per game. The sophomore ranks third in the conference in scoring. Claire Pikett (Holland, N.Y.) leads the conference in steals per game (3.6 SPG) and sits sixth in blocks (1.5 BPG), while averaging 12.7 PPG and 5.4 RPG.

Cecilia Lapertosa (Whitesboro, N.Y.) leads the team in rebounding (7.0 RPG) and blocks (2.0 BPG), while averaging 13.7 PPG, good for second on the team. Shyla Montgomery (Brockton, Mass.) is tied for second in the conference in assists (3.1 APG) and is second in steals (2.4 SPG). Julia Fontanillo (Valladolid, Spain) is tied for 10th in assists (2.6 APG), and Buntley is tied for eighth in steals (1.8 SPG).

Daemen is back on the road this weekend, traveling to the University of the District of Columbia on Friday and Staten Island on Sunday. 

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Daemen University features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.

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