University of Delaware Athletics
Delaware Earns First-Ever Top 25 National Ranking in School History; Hens Move Up to No. 24 in AP Poll
11/28/2011 10:23:00 PM | Women's Basketball
NEW YORK -- The University of Delaware women's basketball team, off to a 4-0 record for the second straight season heading into a key early-season matchup at unbeaten Princeton Thursday night, has cracked the Associated Press Top 25 poll for the first time in school history.
The Blue Hens, who earned 117 points in this week's media poll announced Monday, moved up to No. 24 after a 2-0 week that saw Delaware pick up two road wins with victories of 64-56 at Villanova Tuesday and 61-49 at previously unbeaten St. Bonaventure on Sunday.
"This is an enormous step for the University of Delaware, our program and our players," said Delaware head coach Tina Martin, now in her 16th season at the helm. "It's a great honor for us and we are excited because it hasn't happened here before. A Top 25 ranking puts us on the national scene and that is an exciting thing for all of us. It has taken a lot of hard work to get here, but we have a lot of basketball left to play. Our focus has to be on the next game coming up."
Delaware will travel to Ivy League power Princeton (6-0) on Thursday, Dec. 1 in the team's first matchup as a ranked team. The Hens will be looking to improve to 5-0 for the second straight year but for only the third time in school history.
Princeton received nine votes in this week's AP poll and was ranked No. 3 in last week's CollegeInside.com Mid-Major Poll, coming in just one spot above No. 4 Delaware.
The Blue Hens made history by defeating their highest ranked opponent in program history in an 80-71 upset over then No. 11 Penn State on Nov. 17 at the Bob Carpenter Center, earning Delaware 79 votes in last week's poll.
The Hens received one vote in the preseason poll and two in the Nov. 14 rankings. This is the fourth straight week and the third time in Martin's tenure that her squad has earned notice in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll.
The Blue Hens also received notice during the 2007-07 and 2009-10 campaigns but did not crack the Top 25.
Blue Hen junior All-American Elena Delle Donne leads the nation in scoring this week, pouring in an average of 30.3 points per game thanks to a 40-point effort in the win over Penn State, 33 vs. Rhode Island, 22 against Villanova, and 26 vs. St. Bonaventure. She also leads the team in rebounds at 11.3 per game, including a career-high tying 18 vs. St. Bonaventure, and has committed just four turnovers in 143 minutes of action.
Junior guard Trumae Lucas, a first-year transfer from Florida, averages 8.8 points per game and has dished out a team-high 15 assists while junior forward Danielle Parker (8.5 ppg, 7.0 rpg) and junior guard Lauren Carra (7.3 ppg) have also paced the offense.
Delaware, the preseason favorite to win the Colonial Athletic Association title, is the lone CAA team in this week's poll. Baylor remained in the top spot thanks to 39 first place votes and was followed by Connecticut, Notre Dame, Texas A&M, and Stanford. Maryland, Duke, Tennessee, Miami, and Louisville round out the top 10.
Among the teams the Hens are ranked ahead of this week are No. 25 Vanderbilt, Nebraska, LSU, USC, Virginia, Michigan, and Florida State.
AGATE:
Associated Press Top 25 NCAA Division I Women's College Basketball Poll (Nov. 28)
1. Baylor (39 first place votes); 2. Connecticut; 3. Notre Dame; 4. Texas A&M (1); 5. Stanford; 6. Maryland; 7. Duke; 8. Tennessee, 9. Miami (Fla.), 10. Louisville; 11. Rutgers; 12. Kentucky; 13. Purdue; 14. North Carolina; 15. Georgia; 16. Penn State; 17. Ohio State; 18. Oklahoma; 19. Texas Tech; 20. Georgetown; 21. Texas; 22. DePaul; 23. Green Bay; 24. Delaware; 25. Vanderbilt. Others receiving votes: Gonzaga 73, Nebraska 55, LSU 27, USC 17, Virginia 15, Michigan 11, Florida State 10, Princeton 9, Georgia Tech 8, Tulane 6, California 3, Northwestern 2, Arkansas 1, Iowa, 1.
