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The Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) released its weekly Top 25 coaches’ poll on Tuesday of last week, and the Washington and Lee University women entered the Top 10 for the first time in program history at No. 9.
The Generals’ No. 9 ranking marked the seventh consecutive week that W&L moved up the list. The team entered the Top 25 on Nov. 21 for the first time in program history at the No. 23 spot, and they have yet to drop.
W&L (16-2 overall, 10-1 Old Dominion Athletic Conference) had won 11 consecutive games before coming up short 65-64 at home against ODAC rival Shenandoah (14-3, 9-1) last Wednesday in a rematch of last year’s ODAC championship game, which W&L won 73-57. In last Wednesday’s game, Shenandoah’s Shawnise Campbell scored the winning shot on an inside basket with 18.7 seconds left in the game. W&L’s Mary Schleusner led all players with 32 points and 15 rebounds, while Maddie Campbell led the Hornets with 20 points.
Prior to last Wednesday’s loss, the lone blemish on the Generals’ record this season was an 86-78 home loss on Nov. 25 to Emory, who was ranked 15th in Division III in last week’s WBCA rankings.
The Generals bounced back on Saturday with a strong second half to earn a 51-42 road win over Randolph-Macon (125, 9-2).
Schleusner, Quinn McGuinness and Hanna Malik led the Generals with 11 points each. Malik, a senior guard, became the 13th W&L women’s basketball player to cross the 1,000point mark for a career. Schleusner led all players with 23 rebounds.
Marisa Ziegler led Randolph-Macon with 11 points, and Jane Elkins added 10 points and 19 rebounds.
The Generals will continue ODAC action at home tonight, Wednesday, when they play host to Randolph at 6 at Holekamp Gym. W&L will then travel to take on Lynchburg on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. For the Generals’ schedule and updates, visit www.generalssports.com.
