AMHERST, N.Y. — The Daemen women's basketball team is ranked #23 nationally in the latest Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) NCAA Division II Coaches' Poll.

The Wildcats are ranked in the WBCA poll for the second time this season after earning a #25 ranking on Dec. 16. 

Before that, Daemen had not been ranked since April 2024, when it was tabbed #12 in the final rankings of the season. The Wildcats were also ranked #25 in the final D2CSC poll of the 2024-25 season. 

Off to an 11-2 start, including a 4-0 ECC record, Daemen most recently earned two wins to wrap up its non-conference slate. Last Thursday, the Wildcats logged their second win over a nationally-ranked opponent, defeating #18 Bentley, 75-62. Daemen then downed Franklin Pierce 76-42 on Saturday. 

The Wildcats went 1-1 at the Holiday Hoops Classic in Las Vegas, Nev., on Dec. 21-22. Daemen defeated Texas A&M Kingsville before falling to Montana State Billings. Daemen completed a 4-0 stretch to start ECC play in December, defeating St. Thomas Aquinas and Mercy on the road. The Wildcats also picked up conference wins over Molloy and Queens at home.

Earlier in non-conference action, Daemen earned a 66-6 victory over #24 nationally-ranked Holy Family on Nov. 30. It was the team's first win over a ranked opponent since January 3, 2024, when they defeated #5/11 Ferris State 61-56. The Wildcats also defeated Chestnut Hill, Goldey-Beacom, and Wilmington during the start of non-conference play.

Daemen is being led offensively by Ne'vaeh Buntley (Rochester, N.Y.), who is averaging 15.2 points per game and 6.0 rebounds per game. The sophomore ranks third in the conference in scoring. Cecilia Lapertosa (Whitesboro, N.Y.) is the team leader in rebounding (7.0 RPG) and blocks (2.0 BPG). She is seventh in the ECC in rebounds, second in blocks, and seventh in scoring (13.7 PPG). 

The Wildcats have also seen strong contributions from Claire Pikett (Holland, N.Y.), who leads the conference in steals per game (3.2 SPG) while averaging 10.6 PPG and 5.6 RPG. Shyla Montgomery (Brockton, Mass.) is second in the conference in assists (3.3 APG) and third in steals (2.2 SPG). 
 

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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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