Pride women's basketball cracks the NAIA Top 10 in latest coaches poll
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - For the first time during the 2021-22 season, the Clarke University women's basketball team has been ranked in the top 10 in the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll as the Pride grab the No. 10 spot in Wednesday's official release.
CU maintains their top ranking within the Heart of America Athletic Conference after defeating next-highest ranked Central Methodist University, who moved from No. 13 to No. 15 after the Pride earned their 81-71 win over the Eagles last Saturday.
Clarke has yet to falter within Heart play, starting their conference schedule 11-0 with a current overall winning streak of 17 games that dates back to Nov. 13 in non-conference play. This jump up to No. 10 continues a trend for the Pride as they haven't dropped in the rankings since the start of the season due to their only defeats on the season coming against two teams that they just jumped in the poll in No. 11 Indiana Wesleyan and No. 12 Wayland Baptist.
The latest edition of the poll includes four teams that Clarke has defeated on the season including Central Methodist at No. 15, St. Xavier at No. 20, Dakota State at No. 24, and Grand View in the receiving votes category.
The Pride have been a deep scoring offense, touting five different players currently averaging double figures in scoring led by senior Emma Kelchen's 12.9 points per game as Kelchen also leads the team in rebounding at 7.6 per game. Sophomore guard Nicole McDermott is right behind Kelchen in both categories, ranking second on the team with 11.6 points per game and also second on the team with 6.9 rebounds per game.
Giana Michels and Tina Ubl both provide double figures out of the starting lineup with Michels at an even 11.0 point per game and Ubl currently at 10.2 points per game as both average over four rebounds per game and over two assists per game.
Depth has played a factor in Clarke's success, especially with the return of senior guard Skylar Culbertson to the starting lineup as she and Izzie Peterson, who started the 14 of the first 15 games of the season at point guard, spell each other at the point guard position and Taylor Haase can work in tandem or replace Kelchen in the front court as the sophomore averages 10.8 points per game in just 18.5 minutes per game.
CU women's basketball will be on the road for both of their Heart games this week that starts tonight when they travel to Cedar Rapids, Iowa for a rematch with the Mustangs of Mount Mercy University at 5:30 p.m. CT.