NEWPORT NEWS, Va. -- Continuing to climb the national rankings, the undefeated Christopher Newport women's basketball team is now a top-five team in the nation according to the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Top 25, and a top-ten program in both national rankings. After two more wins ran the Captains' season-opening win streak to nine, CNU is now ranked No. 5 in the WBCA rankings and No. 9 in the D3hoops.com poll.
Christopher Newport posted a historical offensive performance in the week's first matchup against William Peace and then followed it with another standout performance against Meredith College. First, the Captains scored a Freeman Center record 118 points in a 75-point win over the Pacers; then, against Meredith, posted back-to-back 100-point games for the first time since the 90's,
With the two victories, the Captains' extended the second-longest win streak in program history to 26 games and starts the season 9-0 for the fourth time in program history. CNU has also won 26 consecutive home games dating back to December 16, 2018, standing as the second longest roll in program lore.
Christopher Newport is off to a historically impressive start to the season offensively as the Captains currently lead the nation in field-goal percentage (.495) and rank second nationally in scoring offense with 96.4 points per game. Consistently getting good looks at the basket, the Captains rank first nationally in assists and fourth in assists per game. CNU is also rated fourth in free-throw shooting and have put together a top-20 performance from beyond the arc thus far.
While the offense is firing on all cylinders, the defense continues to be a strength for the Captains in 2021-22. In addition to the usual tormenting defensive pressure, the CNU front court has proven formidable this season as well and ranks third nationally in total blocked shots. The Captains lead the nation in steals and three players already have logged 20 thefts in the first nine games this season.
The team will return to action on Sunday, December 12 as they play host to Marymount University at 2:00 pm.
2021-22 WBCA NCAA Division III Top 25 Coaches Poll — 12/7/21
The WBCA NCAA Division III Top 25 Women's Basketball Coaches Poll, with teams RECORD THROUGH SUNDAY'S GAMES in parentheses, total points based on 25 points for first place through one point for 25th, and first-place votes received.
Printable version (PDF)
|
Rank
|
School (Record)
|
Total
Points
|
First-
Place
Votes
|
Last
week's
rank
|
|
1.
|
Hope (7-0)
|
250
|
10
|
1
|
|
2.
|
Whitman (6-0)
|
240
|
0
|
2
|
|
3t.
|
Amherst (7-0)
|
222
|
0
|
4
|
|
3t.
|
UW-Whitewater (8-0)
|
222
|
0
|
3
|
|
5.
|
Christopher Newport (9-0)
|
209
|
0
|
6
|
|
6.
|
DePauw (7-0)
|
191
|
0
|
7
|
|
7.
|
John Carroll (5-0)
|
169
|
0
|
8
|
|
8t.
|
Transylvania (7-0)
|
149
|
0
|
12
|
|
8t.
|
Wartburg (6-0)
|
149
|
0
|
11
|
|
10.
|
NYU (7-0)
|
140
|
0
|
15
|
|
11.
|
Wheaton, IL (8-1)
|
132
|
0
|
5
|
|
12.
|
Simpson (6-1)
|
131
|
0
|
13
|
|
13t.
|
Bowdoin (8-1)
|
124
|
0
|
9
|
|
13t.
|
Trine (7-1)
|
124
|
0
|
13
|
|
15.
|
UW-Eau Claire (8-0)
|
113
|
0
|
19
|
|
16.
|
Tufts (5-1)
|
103
|
0
|
16
|
|
17.
|
Messiah (6-1)
|
99
|
0
|
17
|
|
18.
|
Hardin-Simmons (7-1)
|
81
|
0
|
10
|
|
19.
|
UT Dallas (5-1)
|
74
|
0
|
24
|
|
20.
|
Scranton (6-1)
|
67
|
0
|
23
|
|
21.
|
Wisconsin Lutheran (6-0)
|
57
|
0
|
22
|
|
22.
|
East Texas Baptist (6-2)
|
54
|
0
|
18
|
|
23.
|
Puget Sound (9-1)
|
26
|
0
|
NR
|
|
24.
|
Springfield (8-0)
|
22
|
0
|
NR
|
|
25.
|
Catholic (7-1)
|
16
|
0
|
25
|
Dropped out: No. 20 Rhodes (8-2); No. 21 UW-Oshkosh (7-2).
Others receiving votes: Gettysburg (6-1) 15; Baldwin-Wallace (5-1) 13; St John Fisher (6-0) 13; St Lawrence (7-0) 11; Rhodes (8-2) 7; UW-Oshkosh (7-2) 7; Roger Williams (6-0) 6; Gustavus Adolphus (5-1) 4; Marietta (6-0) 4; Mary Washington (8-1) 2; Roanoke (6-0) 2; Elizabethtown (6-1) 1; Trinity, TX (4-2) 1.
D3hoops.com women's Top 25, Week 2
Through games of Dec 5, 2021:
Correction: One ballot was accidentally cast with North Park, instead of New York University, listed No. 15. That has been corrected in the list above, resulting in NYU moving to 21st and Texas-Dallas to 22nd.
Dropped out: No. 23 Rhodes; No. 25 Catholic
Others receiving votes: Smith 34; Springfield 29; Wisconsin Lutheran 29; Bates 24; St. Benedict 16; Catholic 13; Gustavus Adophus 6; Rhodes 6; Trinity (Texas) 6; St. Lawrence 3; DeSales 2; Roanoke 2; Roger Williams 2
The D3hoops.com Top 25 is voted on by a panel of 25 coaches, Sports Information Directors and media members from across the country, and is published weekly. Points are awarded on a 25-24-23-22-etc. basis.
