| Shaina Kaiser was one of two Denison players in
double figures in the win vs. Wooster. Denison athletics file photo |
The day in Division III women's basketball started with seven undefeated teams and it ends with six of them as most won handily.
The loss was Wartburg's, as the Knights lost 51-39 to Coe to fall out of a first-place tie with Simpson atop the IIAC. Wartburg had won 14 in a row to start the season.
No. 2 Hope cruised past Olivet 77-44 to stay unbeaten and in line to grab the top spot in Monday night's next D3hoops.com Top 25.
Greensboro beat North Carolina Wesleyan 81-65 to keep pace in the USA South and remain undefeated overall, while No. 4 Christopher Newport led Ferrum from tip to finish in the Captains' 99-81 victory. Christopher Newport hit four 3-pointers in the first four minutes, three of them by All-American Chelsie Schweers, and never looked back. Schweers finished with 38 points, including seven three pointers, in 40 minutes. The scoring outburst set a team record for CNU women's basketball in the Freeman Center.
Other undefeated teams who stayed that way include No. 3 Thomas More, which beat Thiel 77-65, and No. 7 Babson, which posted two separate 19-0 runs in the first half and rolled over Coast Guard 76-37. No. 21 Denison also stayed perfect by holding off Wooster, 73-61. So did Gallaudet with a 56-41 win over Morrisville State.
No. 1 Amherst dominated Wesleyan (Conn.) 80-30. Elsewhere in the NESCAC, No. 13 Williams edged Tufts 61-59 in overtime and Bowdoin improved to 14-1 by beating Colby, 65-56.
No. 15 Lebanon Valley picked up a big road win at Widener, 69-62. Andrea Hoover paced the Flying Dutchmen with 16 points and Suzie Noyes added 12 points, all in the second half. Lebanon Valley has a one game lead on Messiah in the MAC Commonwealth. The Falcons held off Alvernia 50-46. Junior Julie McGrory poured in 14 of her game-high 21 points in the second half to lead Gettysburg to a 70-57 victory against 19th-ranked Muhlenberg.
No. 25 St. Vincent finished the game on a 22-5 run and defeated Grove City 64-56, setting up a Top 25 showdown of PAC unbeatens on Wednesday night between the Bearcats and No. 3 Thomas More.
Outside of the rankings, Calvin won 65-50 at Alma to remain unbeaten in MIAA play and set up a showdown with Hope for the conference lead. The rivals meet Wednesday night at Calvin. Carissa Verkaik led the Knights with 25 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots while playing just 20 minutes. Kyanna Jones hit the second of her two free throws with no time remaining as Macalester won a thriller, 83-82 against St. Olaf.