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CoBL-area Division III Power Rankings (WBB): Jan. 25, 2022

01/25/2022, 1:45am EST
By Josh Verlin

Josh Verlin (@jmverlin)
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The regular season is rapidly approaching its key point for the region’s Division III programs, with only about a month left until league playoffs, and time running out for programs to make their moves towards the postseason. 

Here’s an updated Top 10 for the area’s D-III women’s programs:
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Others to Watch: Bryn Athyn (7-7, 6-4 CSAC), Cabrini (8-9, 3-2 Atlantic East), Cairn (8-7, 6-4 CSAC), Gwynedd Mercy (9-9, 3-2 Atlantic East), Immaculata (10-5, 3-2 Atlantic East), Lancaster Bible (7-9, 4-3 United East)

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10. Penn State-Harrisburg (Previous Ranking: OTW)
Overall Record: 10-5 (5-2 United East)
Since Dec. 20: 5-1 (4-1)

Returning to play on Jan. 14 after an over month-long break, PSU-Harrisburg has propelled itself into the Top 10 with a hot start to the new year. The Lions’ only loss in their last six games came against United East Conference opponent St. Mary’s by seven points. Led by guard Kendis Butler (14.0 ppg), PSU-Harrisburg has climbed to the top of the conference along with three other 5-2 teams, including St. Mary’s. An upcoming rematch with the Seahawks at the start of February could prove to be crucial. 

Next Up: @ Wells (Jan. 28), @ Morrisville State (Jan. 29), @ St. Mary’s (Feb. 1)

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9. Albright (8)
Overall Record: 9-5 (4-4 MAC Commonwealth)
Since Dec. 20: 2-2 (2-2)

Albright was in danger of dropping out of the rankings , with three games called off due to COVID costing them a chance to pick up wins, and then losing two of the three games they did play, but then a big road win over York last Wednesday was enough to keep them around. We’ll see if that’s the beginning of a turnaround, with Messiah coming to Reading on Wednesday, and then they play three of the next four on the road. Senior forward Gabby Boggs is a double-double machine, accomplishing the feat in all but two games this year, including an 18-point, 27-rebound game against Lebanon Valley on Jan. 8, propelling her to 16.5 ppg and 14.0 rpg, good for fourth nationally.

Next Up: vs. Messiah (Jan. 26), @ Hood (Jan. 29), @ Widener (Feb. 2)

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8. Swarthmore (4)
Overall Record: 9-5 (5-4 Centennial)
Since Dec. 20: 4-3 (2-3)

The Garnet had a rocky offseason, with their former coach leaving under a cloud of controversy in the fall, leading to former Delco Community College head coach Dawn Grant taking over as interim head coach. Despite that, Swarthmore’s most of the way to its 13 wins from 2019-20 after taking last season off, though they’ve hit a little skid of late, losing three of four games between Jan. 15 and Jan. 22 after winning their first three games since Dec. 20. Council Rock North alum Dana Bandurick, a junior guard, has scored in double figures in every game with five 20+ outings, and she’s leading her team in scoring at 18.7 ppg while making 51% from the field.

Next Up: vs. Bryn Mawr (Jan. 25), @ Muhlenberg (Jan. 27), vs. Johns Hopkins (Jan. 29)

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7. Widener (5)
Overall Record: 10-6 (6-3 MAC Commonwealth)
Since Dec. 20: 3-2 (2-1)

The Pride have technically gone 5-2 (4-1) since our last update, but two of those wins (over Albright and Stevenson) were of the COVID forfeit variety, so they don’t count for these purposes. So far this season, Alisa Kintner’s squad hasn’t been able to win more than two games in a row, but they haven’t lost back-to-back games, either. They’re riding a two-game win streak into their matchup at Eastern on Wednesday,  and play four of their next five on the road. Senior guard Erin Phelan, a Downingtown East grad, and junior guard Jordan D’Ambrosio, a Springfield (Delco.) product who graduated as the program’s all-time leading scorer, are Widener’s two leading bucket-getters at 13.3 ppg and 11.7 ppg, respectively.

Next Up: @ Eastern (Jan. 26), @ Lebanon Valley (Jan. 29), vs. Albright (Feb. 2)

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Ally Landau (above) and Haverford jumped from No. 9 to No. 6 in the rankings. (Photo: Christy Selagy/CoBL)

6. Haverford (9)
Overall Record: 13-5 (9-4 Centennial)
Since Dec. 20: 6-1 (5-1)

After a 14-point loss to Johns Hopkins on Jan. 8, Haverford’s women were 7-5 (4-4), but they’ve since won six in a row, five of which were against league opponents, to separate themselves from the middle of the pack and put themselves in good spot for a Centennial postseason berth. First-year head coach Stephanie Carideo, wife of Widener men’s head coach Chris Carideo, is relying on a rotation of mostly non-seniors, with sophomore Ally Landau (15.1 ppg) and junior Cortlyn Morris (11.2 ppg) leading the way, boding well for the Fords’ long-term potential. They still have to show they can compete with the top of the Centennial, and there are opportunities to come.

Next Up: vs. Washington College (Jan. 27), vs. McDaniel (Jan. 29), @ Bryn Mawr (Feb. 2)

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5. Elizabethtown (6)
Overall Record: 12-3, 4-1 Landmark
Since Dec. 20: 6-1 (3-1)

The Blue Jays have mostly been on a roll, ripping off six straight wins between Dec. 29 and Jan. 19, though that streak got snapped by league frontrunner Scranton, 75-70 on Saturday. Elizabethtown gets a chance for revenge on Feb. 12, but there’s still a healthy heaping to be worked through before then. Veronica Nolt, in her 10th year at E-town (in her second stint with the program), has the luxury of super-consistent fifth-year Veronica Christ (20.1 ppg), who hasn’t scored below 13 points in any game this year, while freshman guard Summer McNulty (11.3 ppg) has gotten better as the year’s gone on, with seven double-digit games in her last nine outings.

Next Up: vs. Juniata (Jan. 26), vs. Drew (Jan. 29), @ Catholic (Jan. 31)

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4. York (2)
Overall Record: 14-3, 8-1 Centennial
Since Dec. 20: 4-2 (4-1)

The Spartans lost a one-point game to Loras (Iowa) the day of our last rankings, on Dec. 20, then won three of their next four, though a home loss to Albright on Jan. 19 knocked them down a couple pegs; they recovered by beating Alvernia on Saturday. Big home game coming up against Messiah, after York won the road contest 61-55 back in December, getting a season-high 25 points from senior Alana Bortner to pull the upset. With the top five scorers (all starters) all averaging north of 7.4 ppg, there are several options for the Spartans to turn to.

Next Up: @ Lebanon Valley (Jan. 26), vs. Messiah (Jan. 29), @ Stevenson (Feb. 2)

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Averi Jordan (above) and DeSales have won 10 straight games to climb to No. 3. (Photo courtesy Pat Jacoby/DeSales Athletics)

3. DeSales (7)
Overall Record: 11-3, 9-0 MAC Freedom
Since Dec. 20: 5-0 (4-0)

The Bulldogs haven’t lost since a two-point defeat to Messiah back on Nov. 20. At the time, it was their third loss in four games to open the year, but they’ve since reeled off 10 straight wins — plus a COVID-related forfeit victory — to continue a big climb up the rankings. Success is nothing new for 32nd-year head coach Frank Richter, who’s got 16 seasons with 20+ wins under his belt; they’ll need to win a few postseason games to make that happen, with only seven left in the regular season. Senior forward Averi Jordan (18.8 ppg) only has one single-digit outing all year, and she just set her season high of 34 points against Arcadia on Saturday.

Next Up: vs. Wilkes (Jan. 26), @ Misericordia (Jan. 29), vs. Stevens (Feb. 2)

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2. Gettysburg (1)
Overall Record: 12-2, 10-0 Centennial
Since Dec. 20: 5-1 (5-0)

A 55-35 loss to Mary Washington on Jan. 2 was enough to knock the Bullets from the top spot, though Nate Davis’ squad bounced back nicely with five straight wins, none by fewer than nine points. They’re still unblemished in the Centennial, but there’s 10 games left in league play; after a trip to Bryn Mawr, Gettysburg gets four straight at home. Senior guard Carly Rice (10.5 ppg) and freshman Mackenzie Szlosek (10.3 ppg) are the only double-digit scorers, joined by Christina Richson (9.0 ppg), Mackenzie Tinner (8.5 ppg) and Hannah Sauver (4.7 ppg) in starting all 14 contests thus far.

Next Up: @ Bryn Mawr (Jan. 27), vs. Muhlenberg (Jan. 29), vs. Bryn Mawr (Jan. 31)

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1. Messiah (3)
Overall Record: 14-2, 8-1 MAC Commonwealth
Since Dec. 20: 7-0 (4-0)

The Falcons soared to the top on the back of an eight-game win streak, and they’re absolutely putting it to opponents lately; their last three wins came by a total of exactly 100 points. Messiah looks well on its way to a fourth consecutive full season with 25-plus wins, excluding last year where they “only” went 11-0. Mike Miller, who’s won 690 games in 34+ seasons at Messiah, relies heavily on fifth-year forward Leah Springer (17.6 ppg, 11.5 rpg), with six others who average between five and 10 ppg, and a defense limiting teams to only 50.4 ppg. Things get a lot tougher this week, with games at two teams in these rankings, including their Commonwealth co-leader in York.

Next Up: @ Albright  (Jan. 26), @ York (Jan. 29), vs. Lebanon Valley (Feb. 2)


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