MINNEAPOLIS -- The Trine women's basketball team has climbed to No. 18 in the national rankings in the latest D3hoops.com Top 25 poll released this evening.
The Thunder received votes totaling 198 points in the poll, an 84-point increase from last week's No. 22 ranking. The ranking is the team's highest as a member of NCAA Division III. Trine clinched its first MIAA championship with a 70-53 road victory over then-No. 8 Hope on Saturday. The championship is the first outright title by a MIAA team other than Hope and Calvin since 1992. The win locked up the No. 1 seed and home court advantage in this weekend's MIAA Tournament.
CLICK HERE for D3hoops.com Top 25.
In addition to its national ranking in the Top 25, Trine is ranked No. 14 in HERO Sports' rankings, powered by BennettRank. The ranking system used in this method is a data-driven model that uses an adjusted margin of victory or defeat weighed against strength of schedule. The system also weighs recent performance and the average BennettRank of each team played.
CLICK HERE for HERO Sports rankings.
Trine is shooting 46.9 percent from the field this season, the second-best mark in NCAA Division III. The Thunder shot 61.8 percent from the floor, the second-best effort on record in team history, in an 87-42 victory over Alma last week, .
Defense has powered much of the success this season as the team has allowed just 48.4 points per contest, the eighth-best mark in the nation and best in the MIAA. Trine held Hope to 28 points below its season-scoring average in Saturday's victory to claim the MIAA title. The Thunder have held opponents to 33.6 percent field goal shooting.
The team's efficient scoring output combined with the defensive play has resulted in an average margin of victory of 24.6 points, the third-highest in the nation.
Brandi Dawson (Garrett, Ind. / Garrett) was named the MIAA's Player of the Week for her efforts in the victories over Alma and Hope last week. She averaged 18.5 points on 65.2 percent shooting, including a 21-point effort to defeat the Flying Dutch. Dawson's 55.9 percent field goal shooting ranks 25th in the nation.
Trine hosts Albion in the MIAA Tournament Semifinals this Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Hershey Hall. The Thunder are hosting the tournament for the first time in team history. CLICK HERE for more information on the tournament.