Contact: Emily Zadny, Director of Athletic Communications, 563-588-7970

WBCA Coaches Poll

Nov.26, 2019 – After securing its first top-25 ranking from D3hoops.com a day earlier, the Loras College women's basketball team jumped up five spots in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) Coaches Poll to No. 17.

The Duhawks improved to 4-0 on the season after scoring a win against the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire on Saturday, Nov. 23. Loras held a 47-35 advantage at the half but Eau Claire rallied back to take a one-point, 76-75  lead off a three-pointer with under a minute to play in regulation. With time of the essence and the ball in the hands of the Duhawks, the Blugolds committed a foul on Marissa Schroeder, sending her to the line to sink two free throws and put Loras ahead by one point. Eau Claire missed the next jumper and Kari Fitzpatrick drew the foul to shoot two at the line and maintain the Duhawks' unblemished start to the season.

Loras also defeated two top-25 teams to open the season, defeating then-ranked No. 24 Washington University (Mo.) 93-81 on Nov. 15 and taking then-ranked No. 17 University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh to overtime on Nov. 16 to win 88-83.

Wartburg College dropped four spots to No. 7 in the latest poll and is the only other team in the American Rivers Conference (A-R-C) in the top-25. Amherst College maintained the No. 1 spot and Tufts University held on at No.2 while the University of St. Thomas (Minn.) ranks third.

The Duhawks open A-R-C play on Tuesday, Nov. 26 at home, hosting Central College at 5:30 P.M.