City of Basketball Love

While a return to No. 1 for DeSales certainly makes the main headlines, a pair of red-hot newcomers to the top-five make for plenty of shakeup in the latest CoBL Division III All-Area Women’s Basketball Rankings.

Here’s the pre-winter break list:

1. DeSales Bulldogs (LR: 2)

Record: 7-1

Last Three Weeks: at Marywood (W, 89-39), at Centenary (W, 76-60), vs. Immaculata (W, 70-48), at Messiah (W, 64-46)

The area’s preseason No. 1 — which currently ranks No. 18 nationally per D3Hoops.com — has been back to its former self since losing its season opener against Muhlenberg, 44-41. Since then, no one has touched the Bulldogs, who have won seven in a row, all with margins of victory of 15-or-more points. Most recently, DeSales went to Messiah and dominated the Falcons; its next test will be at home against Scranton, which ranks No. 6 on D3Hoops.com’s list. Senior forward Mikeala Reese (16.3 ppg, 7.3 rpg) and graduate forward Megan Bealer continue to set the statsheet standard; the two combined for 42 points and 18 rebounds in the Bulldogs’ statement win at Messiah.

Next Up: vs. Scranton (Dec. 19), vs. Principia (Dec. 28), vs. Hamline (Dec. 29), vs. Arcadia (Jan. 3), at FDU-Florham (Jan. 6)

2. Elizabethtown Blue Jays (LR: 1)

 Record: 7-2 (3-1 Landmark)

Last Three Weeks: vs. Catholic (L, 79-70, OT), at Lycoming (W, 84-51), vs. Susquehanna (W, 75-59), at Juniata (W, 65-37)

Elizabethtown, which clung to the 25th and final spot in D3Hoops.com’s Dec. 10 national rankings, has two losses on the season, both to nationally-ranked teams — No. 3 Christopher Newport and No 19 Catholic. Otherwise, it’s been business as usual for the oft-competitive Blue Jays, who have won their three contests since falling to Catholic by an average of 25 points. Much like DeSales, Elizabethtown also has a key upcoming test at home against No. 6 Scranton, to kick off its 2024 calendar. While junior guard Summer McNulty continues to lead Elizabethtown in scoring at 14.3 ppg, senior guard Cyleigh Wilson (13.8 ppg) has averaged 20 points in the Blue Jays’ three recent victories.

Next Up: vs. Loras (Dec. 19), vs. Chatham (Dec. 20), vs. Scranton (Jan. 3), at Wilkes (Jan. 6)

3. Messiah Falcons (LR: 3)

Record: 7-2

Last Three Weeks: at Misericordia (W, 57-42), vs. Salisbury (W, 65-46), vs. DeSales (L, 64-46), at Mary Washington (W, 54-48), vs. Albion (W, 63-48)

An early blowout loss at Dickinson was cause for concern, and losing by 18 to DeSales certainly wasn’t a plus, but Messiah has generally held serve against its early schedule, and has won five of its last six. The Falcons won close on the road against a Mary Washington squad that received votes in D3Hoops.com’s Decemebr 10 poll, behind 20 points from one of its two go-to scorers, senior guard Reese Harden (16.5 ppg). Senior forward Morgan Adams, who leads the Falcons with 16.7 ppg and 6.1 rpg, had a do-it-all outing in that contest, with 10 points, six boards and four assists.

Next Up: vs. Wisconsin-Whitewater (Dec. 19), at Albright (Jan. 3), vs. Hood (Jan. 6), at Penn State Harrisburg (Jan. 8)

4. Arcadia Knights (LR: 6)

Record: 9-0

Last Three Weeks: at Immaculata (W, 76-61), at Widener (W, 66-58), at Penn State Harrisburg (W, 71-46), vs. Penn State Abington (W, 76-59), at Kean (W, 64-61)

Arcadia has rocketed up the list from its No. 10 preseason ranking thanks to a nine-game season-opening win streak. The Knights haven’t played any true powerhouses, but it’s hard to argue with undefeated; they’ve been getting it done on the road, too, with four of their last five wins coming in true road games. Arcadia’s surprise start will be tested right out of the gate in its conference slate, opening up MAC Freedom play at DeSales just three days into the new year. Sophomore guard Hanna Rhoades (20.8 ppg) has been lighting up the score sheet, while sophomore forward Delaney Bell has contributed a highly-productive 15.1 ppg, 10.3 rpg and 5.6 apg. 

Next Up: at Drexel (Dec. 29), vs. Albright (Dec. 30), vs. Ursinus (Dec. 31), at DeSales (Jan. 3), vs. King’s (Jan. 6)

5. Widener Pride (LR: 10)

Record: 10-1 

Last Three Weeks: at King’s (W, 66-59), vs. Arcadia (L, 66-58), at Immaculata (W, 68-60), vs. Sarah Lawrence (W, 94-55), vs. Eastern Connecticut State (W, 61-50)

Widener’s resume is everything Arcadia’s is, with one noticeable difference; the Pride has a loss, to Arcadia. Otherwise, after starting the season unranked on CoBL’s All-Area list, Widener has gone unscathed through a manageable early schedule, and owns a pair of true road wins to go with a slew of neutral-site wins. Widener has a full two weeks without a game before starting MAC Freedom play in the new year, and will be looking for continued contributions from the likes of graduate guard Jordan D’Ambrosio (15.7 ppg, 3.4 apg) and sophomore forward Mia Robbins (14.5 ppg, 9.5 rpg), who have led the way on the stat sheet.

Next Up: at Hood (Jan. 3), vs. Stevenson (Jan. 6), vs. Eastern (Jan. 10)

6. Alvernia Wolves (LR: 4)

Record: 6-2

Last Three Weeks: vs. Rutgers-Camden (W, 69-34), vs. Immaculata (L, 73-69), vs. Goucher (W, 85-51)

Alvernia hasn’t necessarily done anything to lose its top-five area status, but it’s hard to argue with the combined 19-1 records of brand-new top-five squads Arcadia and Widener. Still, Alvernia has taken care of its business — for the most part, as a four-point loss to a 5-7 Immaculata squad certainly wasn’t ideal, but the Wolves have taken five of their last six since nearly upsetting nationally-ranked Catholic on a neutral floor. Senior forward Kayla Williams continues to do a little bit of everything for Alvernia, averaging a team-high 14.4 points and 8.3 boards to go with 3.4 assists and 2.4 blocks

Next Up: vs. Thomas (Dec. 20), vs. Wisconsin Lutheran (Dec. 21), at Wilkes (Dec. 30), at York (Jan. 3), vs. Albright (Jan. 6)

7. Gettysburg Bullets (LR: 8)

Record: 6-2 (4-1 Centennial)

Last Three Weeks: vs. Franklin and Marshall (W, 59-44), vs. Ursinus (W, 64-50), at Washington College (W, 69-57), vs. Dickinson (W, 68-38)

Gettysburg fell from preseason No. 4 to No. 8 in our most recent rankings due to a slow 2-2 start, but with wins in each of their last four games, the Bullets appear to have reverted back to preseason expectations. Gettysburg also benefits from having gotten hot at the start of conference play; after taking a close loss at Johns Hopkins, the Bullets ripped off four conference wins heading into the new year, including over 6-3 Ursinus. Last season’s Centennial Conference Player of the Year, junior guard Mackenzie Szlosek, continues to pace the Bullets with 15.9 ppg and 5.9 rpg on impeccable .523/.533/.864 splits, but sophomore guard Alayna Arnolie’s 14.5 ppg have also provided a major boost.

Next Up: at Marietta (Dec. 29), vs. Trine (Dec. 30), at Swarthmore (Jan. 6), vs. Haverford (Jan. 9)

8. Delaware Valley 

 Record: 9-2 

Last Three Weeks: vs. Neumann (W, 56-54), vs. Gwyneed Mercy (W, 65-50), at Centenary (L, 69-52), vs. Marywood (W, 61-45), at Penn State Harrisburg (W, 78-68), vs. Wilkes (W, 70-51)

Having earned wins of eight of its last nine outings, Delaware Valley is one of two new faces on this week’s rankings. The Aggies — whose only losses this season have come against 7-2 Messiah and 9-3 Centenary — are 75 percent of their way to their 2022-23 win total, having started 2-4 and finished 12-14 a year ago. Senior guard Haley Keenan has filled up the stat sheet with 16.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.2 spg and 2.5 apg, while sophomore forward Alexis Wright has added 14.5 ppg to go with a team-high 7.5 rpg. Keenan has been especially average in recent contests, averaging 21.5 points and nine rebounds in DelVal’s last two games. 

Next Up: vs. Misericordia (Jan. 3), at Lebanon Valley (Jan. 6), vs. FDU-Florham (Jan. 10)

9. Neumann Knights (LR: NR)

Record: 9-3 

Last Three Weeks: at Eastern (W, 51-44), at Delaware Valley (L, 56-54), at York (W, 52-45), vs. Wilkes (W, 65-47), at Penn State Brandywine (W, 74-52), vs. Albright (W, 66-64)

Neumann middled through November, starting the season at a solid 5-3 mark, but has truly ripped through its December schedule, winning four in a row, with two coming by over 15 points. The Knights are fresh off of a close win over Albright, and will compete in the “Steel Club Classic” at Moravian University before transitioning into Atlantic East conference play. For Neumann, junior forward Lauren Klieber has been lights out, averaging team-highs with 22.1 points and 9.5 rebounds while shooting .455/.380/.843 splits.

Next Up: at Moravian (Dec. 29), vs. TBD (Dec. 30), at Gwynedd Mercy (Jan. 3), at Centenary (Jan. 6)

10. Muhlenberg Mules (LR: 9)

Record: 8-3 (3-3 Centennial)

Last Three Weeks: at Bryn Mawr (W, 66-43), vs. Dickinson (L, 51-44), at Johns Hopkins (L, 77-55), vs. Haverford (W, 54-44), at Ursinus (W, 50-49)

Muhlenberg opened the season 5-0, but has struggled to regain its momentum, splitting its first six conference games. Two of the Mules three losses, though, have come by less than 10 total points, including a two-point heartbreaker at Swarthmore in their conference opener. Muhlenberg has gotten the other end of the stick, though, winning by one in its recent trip to Ursinus before nearly a full month off. The only double-digit scorer for a team that averages just shy of 55 points, junior guard Ava Connolly has led Muhlneberg’s charge with 12.1 ppg. 

Next Up: at Washington College (Jan. 6), vs. Franklin and Marshall (Jan. 9), vs. Gettysburg (Jan. 11)