City of Basketball Love

By Jeff Griffith (@hooplove215)
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The Division III women's basketball season is nearing its conclusion with conferences crowning their tournament champions this past weekend and the NCAA Tournament getting underway Friday.

Here’s the latest and final update of our Division III women’s power rankings: 

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Previous Rankings: Preseason (Nov. 7) | Nov. 28 | Dec. 19 | Jan. 16 | Feb. 5

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The DeSales women's basketball team poses together after winning the MAC Freedom tournament championship this weekend. (Photo: Pat Jacoby/DeSales Athletics)

1. DeSales Bulldogs

Record: 25-2 (14-0 MAC Freedom)

Conference Tournament Finish: Won Championship vs. Arcada, 73-45 

On the first day of the 2023-24 season, DeSales dropped a shocker to Muhlenberg, 44-41. Since then, the Bulldogs haven’t lost in regulation, and their only loss came in overtime against a Scranton team that ranks in the Top 10 nationally, and — like DeSales — will host NCAA Tournament games. The Bulldogs shredded their way through the MAC Freedom, with just one of their 16 total conference clashes decided by fewer than 20 points. With a MAC Freedom tournament title in hand and leading scorer Mikaela Reese (15.3 ppg), a Souderton alum, back to her normal self after a pair low-scoring outings, DeSales has high hopes for the month of March.

NCAA Tournament First Round: vs. Southern Virginia (Mar. 1, 7 p.m., Center Valley, Pennsylvania

2. Gettysburg Bullets

Record: 24-3 (19-1 Centennial)

Conference Tournament Finish: Won Championship vs. Johns Hopkins, 64-55

Gettysburg has been as close to unstoppable as anyone since the turn of the calendar year. Winners of their last 18, including a Centennial Conference tournament title, the Bullets have amassed a fantastic résumé, with two wins over Johns Hopkins, as well as a win over Trine, both of which are NCAA Tournament teams. The Bullets’ only losses have also come solely against tournament teams. Sophomore guard Alayna Arnolie (15.1 ppg) and junior guard Mackenzie Szlosek (13.4 ppg) have both been lights out this season for Gettysburg.

NCAA Tournament First Round: vs. St. John Fisher (Mar. 1, 5:30 p.m., Providence, R.I.)

3. Widener Pride

Record: 23-4 (11-3 MAC Commonwealth)

Conference Tournament Finish: Won Championship vs. Messiah, 68-62

Widener hit a rough patch in January when it lost three games in the span of 10 days, but two of those losses were avenged in February, the second of which being Widener’s MAC Commonwealth title game win over NCAA Tournament-bound Messiah. While leading scorer and graduate guard Jordan D’Ambrosio (17.3 ppg), a Springfield (Delco.) product, added a consistent 16 points in both conference tournament games, sophomore forward Mia Robbins poured in a crucial 23 points while adding six boards in the Pride’s conference championship game victory. 

NCAA Tournament First Round: vs. Springfield (Mar. 1, 4 p.m. Lewiston, Maine)

4. Messiah Falcons

Record: 22-5 (13-1 MAC Commonwealth)

Conference Tournament Finish: Lost in Final vs. Widener, 68-62

Despite falling short on its home floor in the MAC Commonwealth title game, Messiah will return to the NCAA Tournament in an at-large status. The Falcons haven’t lost to anyone not named Widener since the start of the new calendar year, and have lost to just one team outside the NCAA Tournament field this season. While senior forward Morgan Adams continues to lead all Messiah scorers with 16.8 ppg this season, senior guard Reese Harden has been especially consistent down the stretch, notching double figures in the last eight contests, including 20 and 19 respectively in the Falcons’ two conference tournament games. 

NCAA Tournament First Round: vs. Shenandoah (Mar. 1, 4:30 p.m., Northampton, Mass.)

5. Arcadia Knights

Record: 22-5 (10-4 MAC Freedom)

Conference Tournament Finish: Lost in Final vs. DeSales, 73-45

Following a blowout loss in the MAC Freedom title game, Arcadia’s body of work wasn’t enough to earn an at-large NCAA Tournament bid despite 22 wins, including one at Widener in December. The Knights’ season was as good as any non-tournament team could be, but a 26-point loss to Lebanon Valley to close the regular season probably didn’t help their cause. The future is bright, though, as sophomores Hanna Rhoades (15.9 ppg) and Delaney Bell (15.7 ppg) led the way in scoring.

6. Elizabethtown Blue Jays

Record: 19-8 (11-3 Landmark)

Conference Tournament Finish: Lost in Semifinals vs. Scranton, 51-42

Elizabethtown hung with an array of talented teams on its schedule; the Blue Jays lost to nationally-ranked Scranton by nine points twice in the last two weeks, and went to overtime with Susquehanna, which ranks No. 8 on this list. Ultimately, though, Elizabethtown’s 19-8 mark wasn’t enough for an at-large NCAA Tournament bid, snapping a two-year streak of trips to the tourney. Junior guard Summer McNulty, who had 17 points, eight boards and five assists in the Blue Jays’ blowout conference tournament win over Moravian, led the way on the season with 15.2 ppg. 

7. Penn State Harrisburg Lions

Record: 17-11 (11-1 United East)

Conference Tournament Finish: Won Championship vs. Saint Elizabeth, 64-54

The Lions are in the NCAA Tournament after taking home the United East tournament crown; Penn State Harrisburg was 4-9 at the end of December and 7-11 a few weeks later, but ripped off 10 in a row in conference to set itself up for what ended up being a convincing conference tournament run; the Lions won all three postseason games by double digits. Junior guard Giahny Correa, who co-led the way with 13 points in the conference title game, finished the season as Penn State Harrisburg’s top scorer at 17.4 ppg. 

NCAA Tournament First Round: at SUNY New Paltz (Mar. 1, 7:30 p.m., New Paltz, N.Y.)

8. Susquehanna RiverHawks

Record: 18-9 (12-6 Landmark)

Conference Tournament Finish: Lost in Semifinals at Catholic, 83-70

Susquehanna’s win-loss record certainly wasn’t spotless, but you’ve got to hand it to the RiverHawks; they really only lost to the best of the best. Susquehanna’s nine losses include Elizabethtown and DeSales, as well as two apiece against Catholic and Scranton, both of which rank among the nation’s Top 10. Down to the final game, sophomore forward Julia Roth continued to fill the stat sheet, logging 13 points, eight boards and four assists. Roth led all scorers on the season with 14.9 ppg, just ahead of graduate guard Kaitlyn Lynch (13.1 ppg).  

9. Dickinson Red Devils

Record: 19-8 (15-5 Centennial)

Conference Tournament Finish: Lost in Semifinal vs. Gettysburg, 74-48

Dickinson’s season looked potentially poised for an at-large NCAA Tournament bid as February neared, but a trio of consecutive losses — all to very good teams — hampered the Red Devils’ record entering March. All in all, though, Dickinson has plenty to show for its 2023-24 season, having overcome a 5-4 start to finish with nearly 20 wins, and gaining a win against nationally-ranked Smith along the way. The statistical season of forward Clair Marion was also one for the books; the junior pitched in 17.5 ppg — more than double the next highest-scoring player — and tacked on 5.0 rpg, 2.7 apg and 3.0 spg. 

10. Bryn Athyn Lions

Record: 17-8 (13-5 United East)

Conference Tournament Finish: Lost in Semifinal at Saint Elizabeth, 56-51

After back-to-back losses in mid-January and sitting at 10-7, the Lions looked potentially poised for a rather average final record, but ripped off six wins in seven games to finish off a strong regular season. Ultimately, though, Saint Elizabeth was Bryn Athyn’s kryptonite; the Lions lost to the Eagles in a pair of close regular season games, before falling again by just five in the United East tournament. Junior guard Zhymani Smith, who led all scorers with 19.0 ppg, tallied 22 in the finale.