Cardinals break into USA Today Top-25 poll

WASHINGTON – A 6-0 start has propelled the CUA women’s basketball team to a No. 24 national ranking in this week’s USA Today Division III Top-25 Coaches Poll, announced on Tuesday.  CUA won all three of its games last week and is a perfect 3-0 inside the DuFour Center thus far.

Behind strong defense and a balanced offense, CUA has raced its way to six straight wins to begin the season.  The Cardinals opened the campaign with two wins in two days at the Randolph-Macon Tip-Off Classic in mid-November and then opened their home schedule with a victory over Marymount.

Last week, CUA took down Bridgewater, Salisbury and conference foe Drew in succession to remain unbeaten.

Senior captain Jill Woerner leads the squad in scoring at 17.5 points per game, and following a strong week on the hardwood, the Providence native was named the Landmark Conference Player of the Week on Monday.

Woerner’s classmate, Katarina Owunna, currently leads CUA in rebounding at 9.7 caroms per game, and her 11.3 points per game average is second to Woerner.  Kelli Josephsen is next in line in scoring with 9.2 points per game, followed by Jenny McGann (7.7) and Josehine Migash (7.5).

The Cardinals currently lead the Landmark Conference in scoring defense (48.8 ppg), scoring margin (+17), field goal percentage defense (28.5%), and rebound margin (+10.8). 

CUA has held all six teams it has played to less than 60 points and four to less than 50.

To see the entire top-25 poll, click here.

In addition to the USA Today poll, CUA is also receiving votes in the D3Hoops.com national poll.

The Cardinals are currently off for the week before returning to action on Saturday, December 15 when they travel to face Washington College.  Start time is set for 7 p.m.