Geoff Schneider

#13 Wildcats Look to Keep Rolling on the Road

2/5/2026 9:00:00 AM

By: CONTACT: Connor Griffin, Assistant Director of Athletics Communications | cgriffin@daemen.edu

BACK ON THE ROAD
The #13 Daemen women's basketball team is back on the road this weekend, heading to the University of the District of Columbia on Friday before traveling to the College of Staten Island on Sunday. The Wildcats currently hold a 17-2 record, including a 10-0 ECC mark. It marks the second straight season that Daemen has started conference action 10-0.

LAST TIME OUT
Daemen cruised past Roberts Wesleyan, 86-49, at Lumsden Gymnasium last Saturday. The Wildcats' defense forced 33 turnovers, converting them into 30 points, while securing a 46-22 advantage in paint scoring. Roberts managed just three points in the second quarter, struggling against Daemen's relentless pressure. Ne'vaeh Buntley (Rochester, N.Y.) scored 24 points and recorded six steals, leading the team's offensive and defensive efforts. Kyleigh Chapman (Canandaigua, N.Y.) was perfect from the field, scoring 10 points while adding two blocks and four steals. Sophie Auer (Lewiston, N.Y.) posted 12 points, five rebounds, and two assists. Brianna Caliri (Staten Island, N.Y.) added nine points and posted two blocks. Claire Pikett (Holland, N.Y.) added 10 points and tallied four steals in her starting role.

NATIONALLY-RANKED 'CATS
The Wildcats moved up to #13 in the latest Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) NCAA Division II Coaches' Poll. Daemen is 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 the team was ranked #12. 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).

ECC WEEKLY HONOR ROLL
Buntley and Chapman were named to the ECC Weekly Honor Roll on Monday. Buntley led all players with 24 points, logged a career-high six steals, collected four rebounds, and dished out one assist in Daemen's win over Roberts Wesleyan on Saturday. She shot 9-of-14 (64.3%) from the field, including 4-of-5 (80%) from three-point range. Buntley's four three-pointers were a season-high. Chapman posted four steals, two blocks, and grabbed six rebounds, including five defensive rebounds, in Daemen's win over Roberts Wesleyan. She also scored 10 points on 4-of-4 shooting and dished out three assists. Chapman helped the Wildcats hold the Redhawks to 49 points and 32.1% shooting from the field, including 23.1% shooting from three-point range. It marked the second straight game in which Daemen held an opponent under 50 points.

PERFECT JANUARY
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.

IN THE RANKINGS
Buntley leads the team and ranks third in the ECC in scoring (15.9 PPG). Pikett is the conference leader in steals (3.6 SPG) and ranks sixth in blocks (1.5 BPG). Shyla Montgomery (Brockton, Mass.) is second in steals (2.5 SPG), while Buntley (1.8 SPG) is tied for eighth. Montgomery is also tied for second in assists (3.1 APG) while Julia Fontanillo (Valladolid, Spain) sits tied for 10th (2.6 APG).

DEFENSIVE DOMINANCE
Daemen leads the ECC and sits ninth nationally in blocks per game (5.1 BPG). The Wildcats also lead the conference in steals per game (15.7 SPG), ranking fifth nationally. Daemen has logged double-digit steals in all but one game this season. The Wildcats recorded 36 steals against Wilmington on Nov. 14, the most in a game in the program's Division II era. Raposo broke the program record (Division II era) for steals in a game with nine, while Pikett logged eight and Montgomery posted six. Additionally, the Wildcats had 10 blocks in the contest, led by Caliri with three and Jalea Abrams (Elmira, N.Y.) with two. On Nov. 15, the Wildcats logged 18 steals with seven from Pikett, while Cecilia Lapertosa (Whitesboro, N.Y.) and Auer each snagged two. Caliri registered two of Daemen's five blocks in the contest. Daemen logged 17 steals and seven blocks at Mercy (Dec. 12) and 16 steals and six blocks against Queens (Dec. 5). Daemen recorded 23 steals at Molloy (Jan. 18) and 22 at Queens (Jan. 16), its second and third most in a game this season, respectively. The Wildcats posted 21 steals against Roberts last Saturday, their fourth-highest total this season.

SCOUTING THE FIREBIRDS (7-12, 1-6 ECC)
The University of the District of Columbia is coming off a 67-57 loss at Queens last Saturday, snapping a two-game win streak after defeating Roberts Wesleyan (64-55) and St. Thomas Aquinas (80-51). The Firebirds are led in scoring by graduate student Aiyana Ellis (12.2 PPG), who also leads the team in rebounding (7.8 RPG). Nhaikyia Smith leads the team in assists (3.1 APG) while averaging 9.7 PPG and 4.5 RPG. Dashani Coleman is averaging 9.1 PPG and a team-best 1.6 steals per game.

SERIES HISTORY
The Wildcats hold a 15-9 record over the Firebirds after defeating UDC 67-54 at Lumsden Gymnasium earlier this season. Daemen has won 11 straight games over the Firebirds.

SCOUTING THE DOLPHINS (4-11, 1-6 ECC)
Staten Island fell 72-66 at Molloy last Saturday after earning a 72-54 win at home against Queens last Wednesday. Kyra Rose leads the Dolphins in scoring (14.3 PPG), rebounding (7.9 RPG), assists (2.8 APG), and steals (1.8 SPG). Shonyae Edmonds is second in scoring (10.3 PPG) and rebounding (7.4 RPG). Racky Kane is averaging 9.4 PPG, 5.5 RPG, and 1.7 assists per game.

SERIES HISTORY
Daemen has a perfect 11-0 record against Staten Island all-time after beating CSI 78-52 at home earlier this season. The Wildcats defeated the Dolphins three times last season, twice during the regular season and again in the ECC Championship game by a score of 76-68.

UP NEXT
Daemen plays its final home games of the regular season next weekend, welcoming Mercy on Friday at 5:30 p.m. before hosting St. Thomas Aquinas on Sunday at 12 p.m.

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.

Follow the Daemen women's basketball program on Twitter and Instagram at @DaemenWBB

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