Taylor Maintains Position in NAIA Women’s Basketball Poll
NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The Taylor University women's basketball team (16-4, 6-4 CL) continues to receive votes in the NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll, released by the national office on Wednesday.
TU garnered 15 points in the latest tally, which ranks 37th among the 47 total teams registering votes in the national poll. The Trojans checked in at 22nd in the latest RPI rankings this week, moving up three spots from the prior rankings release.
Carrying its best start through the first 20 games in five years, Taylor has not trailed over the previous two outings. The Trojans bounced back from a rough patch that featured five consecutive games against ranked opponents (1-4). Last Saturday, Taylor began the second half of the league schedule with season-high marks in three-point shooting percentage (44.8%), points (88) and assists (22) against CL foes.
The Trojans are currently ranked 23rd in the NAIA and third in the Crossroads League in scoring average (78.0). Coming off her seventh game with 30-plus points, Kaycie Warfel continues to lead the NAIA at 26.6 points per game and ranks fourth in steals (66). The freshman guard surpassed 500 points in Saturday's victory with a 35-point outburst. Warfel is currently ranked second in total points (532) and third in points per game (26.6) among the NAIA and all three NCAA levels of women's college hoops combined.
Additionally, Celina Blount has been a dominant force for the Trojans. The sophomore forward leads the NAIA in blocked shots (60) – breaking the TU women's basketball single-season record last Saturday. Blount is averaging 9.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per contest.
Madi Allen leads the team in minutes, with the freshman averaging double figures in scoring (11.3 PPG), while sophomore Emma Fohl ranks fifth among CL leaders in assists (70). Senior Quinn Kelly has been a steady court presence while shooting nearly 50 percent from the field.
TU is one of six Crossroads League teams appearing in the poll including No. 5 Marian (18-2, 8-2 CL), No. 6 Saint Francis (19-1, 9-1 CL), No. 18 Spring Arbor (17-3, 8-2 CL), RV Huntington (14-6, 6-4 CL) and RV Indiana Wesleyan (11-9, 5-5)
Dordt (19-1) remains at the top-ranked position in the fourth edition of the coaches' poll. Freed-Hardeman (19-1) jumped to No. 2, while Bethel (19-2), Campbellsville (17-3) and Marian (18-2) each slid one spot to 3-4-5, respectively.
The Trojans return to action tonight in its cross-county clash at RV Indiana Wesleyan, with tipoff scheduled for 5 p.m. inside Luckey Arena.