HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College women's basketball team debuted at No. 5 in the first weekly release of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Mid-Atlantic regional rankings on Wednesday afternoon.
The rankings ultimately serve as criteria for the selection of at-large bids to the NCAA tournament. The release is the first of three weekly rankings, to be unveiled on Wednesdays in February, before the entire 64-team tournament bracket is released on Monday, February 25.
The Fords are currently in the midst of a seven-game conference win streak and have a 17-5 overall record and a 13-4 mark in Centennial Conference play. The Fords have clinched a playoff berth, with seeding and schedule to be determined. Haverford is 1-3 against regionally-ranked opponents from the first release this season. The Fords split the season series with nationally-ranked Gettysburg while falling twice to Johns Hopkins. Record against regionally-ranked opponents will be factored into the rankings criteria beginning with next week's release.
Messiah (1), Scranton (2), Gettysburg (3), Johns Hopkins (4), Southern Virginia (6), Christopher Newport (7), and Salisbury (8) are the other Mid-Atlantic programs ranked in the initial rankings release.
The Fords will next be in action on Thursday, traveling to Muhlenberg for a 7:30 p.m. tip-off in Allentown. The Fords will be looking to avenge a 59-50 December loss to the Mules at Gooding Arena.
Last season, Haverford first entered the regional rankings during the second weekly release, checking in at number seven. The Fords were the eighth-ranked team in the region entering the NCAA tournament, collecting an at-large bid after reaching the 20-win mark for the second time in program history.