AMHERST, N.Y. - Daemen College is the No. 8 ranked team in the NCAA Division II Sports Information Directors of America (D2SIDA) Women's Basketball Preseason Media Poll which was released today. With the announcement, the Wildcats are now ranked in both preseason national polls for the first time in the program's NCAA era. Earlier this week, the Wildcats came in at No. 20 in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll.
Daemen is coming off a magical 2020-21 campaign. Despite playing through the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Wildcats posted a 14-3 overall record, won a second consecutive ECC regular season title as well as the program's first-ever East Region championship. The Wildcats advanced to the Elite Eight where their season came to an end against eventual national champion Lubbock Christian. The Wildcats finished the season as the No. 8 ranked team in the WBCA poll.
Head coach Jenepher Banker returns for her sixth season at the helm. She has led the Wildcats to a 78-50 record to date with 55 of those victories coming in the last three seasons.
Banker will have a veteran group to work with as 13 players return, including incumbent starters Katie Titus (Penfield, N.Y.), Tiara Filbert (Batavia, N.Y.), Mickayla Ivy (Grand Rapids, Mich.) and Alahna Paige (Rochester, N.Y.). Titus and Filbert are each multi-time All-ECC honorees, as well as the last two ECC Preseason Players of the Year. Titus earned the accolade just last week after producing 14.8 points and 8.1 rebounds per contest last season. All together, the Wildcats return players responsible for 78% of their scoring, 81% of their rebounds and 85% of their assists.
Lubbock Christian is the unanimous choice atop the poll after receiving all 16 first-place votes. Drury comes in at No. 2, Lander at No. 3, Central Missouri at No. 4 and Alaska Anchorage at No. 5.
Daemen is one of two East Region teams included in the poll, joining No. 19 Stonehill. Daemen hosts Stonehill in their home opener November 30.
Daemen opens the 2021-22 season with an exhibition contest this Thursday, November 4 at Division I Buffalo. The regular season tips off with the Wildcats facing St. Anselm on Friday, November 12 as part of the Redhawks Classic hosted by Roberts Wesleyan.
| D2SIDA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON MEDIA POLL |
|
W-L * |
PTS. |
| 1. Lubbock Christian (16) |
23-0 |
400 |
| 2. Drury |
24-2 |
382 |
| 3. Lander |
20-2 |
358 |
| 4. Central Missouri |
23-5 |
352 |
| 5. Alaska Anchorage |
3-0 |
309 |
| 6. North Georgia |
18-2 |
284 |
| 7. Fort Hays St. |
22-4 |
259 |
| 8. DAEMEN |
14-3 |
249 |
| 9. Gannon |
13-1 |
247 |
| 10. Azusa Pacific |
12-5 |
246 |
| 11. Colorado Mines |
17-3 |
216 |
| 12. Union (Tenn.) |
19-6 |
215 |
| 13. Belmont Abbey |
24-3 |
192 |
| 14. Walsh |
16-5 |
180 |
| 15. Nebraska Kearney |
23-4 |
164 |
| 16. Tampa |
7-0 |
152 |
| 17. Texas A&M-Commerce |
14-4 |
147 |
| 18. Ashland |
11-7 |
132 |
| 19. Stonehill |
0-0 |
128 |
| 20. Bowie St. |
0-0 |
116 |
| 21. Minnesota Duluth |
14-2 |
84 |
| 22. Charleston (W.Va.) |
19-3 |
82 |
| 23. Michigan Tech |
17-1 |
77 |
| 24. Southwestern Oklahoma St. |
18-4 |
46 |
| 25. Cal St. San Marcos |
0-0 |
35 |
* denotes final 2020-21 record
( ) denotes first-place votes
Others receiving votes: Lee 34, Carson-Newman 27, Adelphi 17, Western Colorado 16, Indiana (Pa.) 15, Arkansas Tech 12, Western Washington 10, Barton 9, Bentley 5, Valdosta State 2, Hawaii Pacific 1
Daemen College features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 18 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.
Follow the Daemen College women's basketball program on Twitter and Instagram at @DaemenWBB.
