Daemen Jumps To #7 In D2SIDA Regional Poll

11/25/2019 5:02:00 PM

By: By Mike Miranto, Sr. Associate A.D. for External Operations & Communications

AMHERST, N.Y. - The Daemen College women's basketball team has moved up two spots to No. 7 in the NCAA Division II Sports Information Directors of America (D2SIDA) East Region media poll released this afternoon. The Wildcats, under the leadership of head coach Jenepher Banker, have now been ranked in five consecutive D2SIDA regional polls dating back to last February, and this week's No. 7 ranking marks the program's highest ascent in the poll.

Banker has led her team to wins in 19 of their last 22 games, and has them sitting at 5-1 this season - the program's finest start since transitioning to the NCAA Division II level. Daemen extended their winning streak to five straight games with wins over regionally-ranked Edinboro University (64-57) and Wilmington University (83-51) last week.

Daemen has featured a stingy defense so far this season, allowing just 54.2 points per game on 37 percent shooting to opponents. Through the five-game winning streak, Daemen is outscoring opponents by 23.4 points per game. Two of the wins have been by 30+ points, including Saturday's defeat of Wilmington which came in Daemen's first true road game of the season.

The Wildcats have been balanced offensively with all five starters averaging at least 8.0 points per game. Sophomore forward Katie Titus (Penfield, N.Y.) leads the bunch at 14.7 points per outing, while Caroline White (Fairport, N.Y.) and Jordan Heinold (Hamburg, N.Y.) have starred of late. White netted 18 points in each of the two wins last week, and has earned East Coast Conference Defensive Player of the Week honors. Heinold canned seven three-pointers and scored a career-high 25 points in the win over WIlmington.

Daemen is back in action with a pair of stiff tests during a trip to Florida this week. The Wildcats will face Nova Southeastern University and tournament host Barry University as part of the Cesar Odio Thanksgiving Classic in Miami Shores.

Daemen College features the only 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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