LILBURN, Ga. – Continuing its rise up the Women's Basketball Coaches Association poll, Carson-Newman checked in at No. 6 to reach its highest mark as a NCAA Division II member when it was released Wednesday afternoon.
The Lady Eagles are one of 12 remaining undefeated teams at the Division II level and with 11 wins on the year, C-N has the most victories to date of the 302 women's basketball teams in the country.
It has been a steady rise for Mike Mincey's unit starting with a No. 19 ranking in the poll released on Nov. 21. Since that, Carson-Newman has been ranked 15th, eighth and now sixth.
This ranking passes the mark set by the program in 2009-10 when C-N rose to No. 8 nationally thanks to its best start in program history beginning the year 16-0. The ranking came in January 2010.
According to the record book, the highest ranking the program has ever reached was third during its NAIA days. The school finished the year with the No. 3 ranking during a 27-8 season in 1981-82 and following a 32-3 campaign in 1984-85.
The 2017-18 version of Carson-Newman women's basketball has proven to be a juggernaut. Out of the 32 statistical categories ranked by the NCAA, the Lady Eagles are ranked in the top 10 in 11 areas. Highlighting those marks is the second-highest scoring offense at 97.7 points per game and fifth in assists per game at 20.1. With 47 rebounds per night, the club is seventh in nationally.
Prior to Christmas break, C-N travels to Queens Wednesday night at 6 p.m. before a home outing against Lenoir-Rhyne on Saturday at 2 p.m.
Fans can enjoy the contests on 106.3 (WPFT-FM, Sevierville) and cneagles.com/live as the Eagle Sports Network will have the broadcasts beginning 15 minutes prior to the tip-off of each game.
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