March is quickly approaching, and with it, the DII women's basketball championship. We've seen some surprises the past few seasons. Last year alone, a No. 5 and a No. 8 seed made it to the semifinals, with No. 5 Minnesota State winning it all.
It is easy to look at Texas Woman's or Grand Valley State or Ashland and find a contender, but it's not always about the best record this time of year. It's about momentum and teams that are getting hot at the right time.
DII WOMEN'S BASKETBALL HUB
- January all-stats starting five
- Fabulous freshmen to watch
- Double double machines
- How the DII women's basketball championship works
- Championship history
These teams are doing just that.
Colorado Mesa
The Mavericks are a four-loss team and didn't even receive votes in the last WBCA poll but snuck a few votes in the D2CSC poll. They have won 10 in a row and control first place in the RMAC for now. Per Inkblot Sports, Colorado Mesa is also fourth in the South Central, which is impressive when you consider heavyweights Lubbock Christian and Texas Woman's occupy the top two spots. The Mavericks also have one of the best players in DII women's basketball, not just this season, but for the past three. Olivia Reed does it all, averaging 21.8 points and 11.0 rebounds per game and leads the Mavericks in blocked shots and the RMAC in field-goal percentage.
Daemen
This is Wildcats season. This is when, seemingly on an annual basis, Daemen women's basketball comes alive. At the end of every February, they find another gear, sneak into the tournament, and do damage. In the four tournaments since 2021, the Wildcats have made it to the DII Women's Elite Eight twice — last year as the sixth seed in the East Region — and made another East Region finals... as the No. 8 seed. Daemen has six losses, so it will once again be slept on, but they also are undefeated in the ECC and have won seven in a row. The Wildcats also own the ECC's best defense, and you know what they say about defenses.
Holy Family
From 2011 to 2016, Holy Family was a regular in the DII women's basketball championship, missing it just once during that six-year span. The Tigers haven't been back once since that run but are sure looking the part now. Holy Family is 19-2 and winners of 11 of their last 12, opening February with a big win over Dominican (NY), which was also undefeated in conference play at the time. They weren't receiving votes in the last WBCA poll but are No. 4 in the East Region per Inkblot Sports. Like Daemen, they also have the best defense in their conference and can easily make some noise in what is traditionally an East Region for any team's taking.
Southern Nazarene
There is a storm a-brewing in Bethany, OK. Southern Nazarene has won nine in a row, and that includes knocking off Harding to take over first place in the GAC. The Storm has the best defense in the GAC, allowing just 55.9 points per game, and held Harding's top-ranked offense to just 62 points. Add to the fact that the Storm has Hannah Giddey (16.2 points, 9.5 rebounds, 4.2 assists, 2.3 blocks per game), one of the best DII women's basketball has to offer, and this team is going to be dangerous.
Eckerd
Yes, the Tritons are coming off a loss to nationally ranked Nova Southeastern, but it is exactly that loss (and others) that gets them on this list. First, let's start with the wins. Eckerd has won seven of their last eight and has resume-building wins against nationally ranked Embry-Riddle, Columbus State (which almost made this list itself until a tight loss to North Georgia this past weekend) and Valdosta State. The Tritons' last three losses have come to two of the best teams in DII women's basketball (Nova Southeastern twice and Tampa once) by a total of eight points. This Tritons team is hanging with some of the best of the best and putting them to the test. This is the kind of team that sneaks into the tournament and makes everyone's life miserable... except their fanbase.
Lee
The Flames are on fire (that was too easy to pass up). They have won five in a row and 10 of their last 11. Most recently, they avenged early season losses to Valdosta State and West Florida while concluding the season sweep of Alabama Huntsville — the team directly in front of them in the GSC standings. They have the GSC's best scoring defense (are you seeing a pattern here) and Haylee Johnson has been playing some of the best ball of her career on this streak, averaging 24.8 points per game over her last five.
Montana State Billings
The Yellowjackets are winners of five straight and 10 of their last 12. That includes knocking off nationally ranked Lubbock Christian and UT Tyler on consecutive nights back in December. They had a gut-wrenching three-point loss to Central Washington a few weeks back that they will have a chance to avenge this coming week. The Yellowjackets have a stingy defense, allowing just 55.3 points per game, and Dyauni Boyce and Aspen Giese are a formidable duo leading the charge. Minus 24-0 Cal State Dominguez Hills, the West Region is wide open right now. With a huge win against GNAC rival (and currently first place) Alaska Anchorage already under their belt, the Yellowjackets seem like a team that can make some noise in March.
Quincy
The Hawks are a conundrum of sorts. Let's start with the wow factor. Quincy has won 12 in a row — which ties it for the seventh-longest winning streak in DII at the moment — and sits at a very respectable 18-5 overall. This is just one year after finishing 10-18, so let's not sell short this impressive turnaround. The other side of the coin is that the Hawks don't have any signature wins and per Inkblot Sports aren't even in the tournament right now. Still, 12 in a row is 12 in a row, and considering 11 of those wins have come in rather dominating fashion, the Hawks are finding their way at the right time. Cymirah Williams is a sneaky good player as well, averaging just shy of a double-double with 10.6 points and 9.4 rebounds per game.
For your consideration
- Clark Atlanta: The Panthers have two five-game winning streaks sandwiched around a Jan. 18 loss, so they are doing just fine. At 17-5 — already two more wins than last year — and a season sweep over Tuskegee, Clark Atlanta is on a roll.
- Jefferson: The Rams feel like a DII tournament staple but took a little while to get going this season. They have now won seven in a row and eight of their last nine. With a season split against Dominican (NY) and Holy Family still on the schedule, taking the CACC is still in reach.
- Kutztown: The Golden Bears were fading, sitting at 6-10 on Jan. 11. However, they have won eight straight and per Inkblot Sports are firmly in the DII tournament conversation right now.
- Lewis: The Flyers have won six in a row and 18 of their last 19. They are in sole possession of first place in the GLVC, undefeated at home and currently fifth in the Midwest Region.
- Tuskegee: The Golden Tigers are another team that looked dead in the water, sitting at 5-8 on Jan. 6. They have now won eight in a row and may in fact be a threat to the SIAC as the leaders of the West Division.
