Two Teams Debut in Latest DII Women’s Basketball Power 10 Rankings

A lot has happened since the DII women’s basketball Power 10. Grand Valley State suffered its first loss of the calendar year, and only Minnesota State remains unbeaten. Despite national polls showing Grand Valley State dropping all the way to third place, the Lakers remain the top Power 10 team.

With March approaching, competition within the Power 10 rankings has become increasingly close. The teams ranked first through fourth are separated by only small margins, while positions five through twelve remain tightly contested. As a result, differences between these rankings and national polls are expected.

The Power 10 list is compiled through an independent evaluation process rather than a formal voting system. It does not rely on input from the NCAA selection committee or a panel of voters. Instead, the rankings are based on a combination of performance metrics and direct observation of on-court play.

The approach aims to balance statistical analysis with game-based evaluation, creating a ranking system that falls between national polls and regional assessments. While advanced metrics remain part of the process, KPI is no longer used as a primary factor. Moving forward, greater emphasis will be placed on Inkblot Sports RPI when assessing team performance.

DII women’s basketball Power 10 (until February 15)

No. 1 Grand Valley State | Previous Ranking: 1. So, how can a one-loss team remain ahead of undefeated Minnesota State? It’s a reasonable question, so here are some metrics for the top three (GVSU, Minnesota State, and Texas Woman’s).

• • RPI: It’s difficult to tell definitively who has “the best” RPI across areas, but here’s what we know: Grand Valley State has the best RPI among DII women’s basketball teams. The Lakers’.641 RPI ranks first in every region.
  • KPI: As They already stated, They do not place much importance on this, but the selection committee definitely does. Grand Valley State ranks first, Minnesota State second, IUP third, and Texas Woman fourth.
  • Texas Woman’s and Grand Valley State have the 33rd-toughest schedule in DII, both with a.559 rating. Minnesota State? The Mavericks have the 105th toughest schedule in DII.

When reviewing the available data, Minnesota State does not clearly stand out as the overall No. 1 team based on performance metrics alone, aside from its winning percentage. In NCAA Division II basketball, however, regional competition plays a major role in evaluating team strength.

Minnesota State has been impressive throughout the season and continues to rank among the nation’s elite programs. The Mavericks remain a serious contender for the national championship. At the same time, the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) does not currently feature other nationally ranked teams, and Minnesota State did not face any ranked opponents during non-conference play.

In contrast, Grand Valley State competes in the highly competitive Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC). The conference includes several nationally ranked programs, including Northern Michigan and Ferris State, both ranked in the Top 20. Wayne State (Michigan) is also expected to move into the Top 25 after recently receiving votes.

Grand Valley State has produced strong results against this high-level competition. The Lakers swept No. 12 Northern Michigan, hold a 1–0 record against No. 17 Ferris State, and split their series with Wayne State, with their only loss coming by a single point. In non-conference play, Grand Valley State also recorded key wins over Northwood, currently ranked No. 2 in the Midwest Region RPI, and West Texas A&M, another Power 10 program.

This comparison is not intended to diminish Minnesota State’s achievements. The Mavericks continue to rank among the top Division II basketball teams in the country. Instead, the scheduling strength, conference competition, and quality wins help explain why a one-loss team remains at No. 1 in these rankings, even when national polls may suggest a different order.

No. 2 Minnesota State | Previous Ranking: 2. Here come the Mavericks, so let’s brag about them for a while. The Mavericks are currently 26-0, a better record than when they won the national championship two years ago. Natalie Bremer is a top-5 scorer in DII women’s basketball, averaging 21.5 points per game. They are the only DII women’s basketball team that scores more than 90 points per game, averaging 93.9. The Mavericks’ high-scoring assault is fueled by their tough defense, which leads DII with 21.1 steals per game and 34.1 turnovers forced per game. This team is speedy and agile all over the court, and they appear to be headed to the DII Women’s Elite Eight.

No. 3 Texas Woman’s | Previous Ranking: 3. The Pioneers are another team whose resume screams loudly. They had non-conference wins over Wayne State (MI), UCCS, and Pittsburg State, and they are the best team in the South Central, which has four top 20 teams. They defeated West Texas A&M and Lubbock Christian and are 16-0 in what is perhaps DII’s strongest conference this year. Averee Kleinhans and Gabby Elliott continue to be the division’s most formidable dynamic combo. The Pioneers have been battle-tested and are ready to compete in a tournament.

No. 4 Indiana (PA) | Previous Ranking: No. 6: Indiana (PA) continues to make a strong case as one of the top teams in Division II basketball. Despite defeating Gannon in head-to-head competition, the Crimson Hawks currently remain ranked behind the Golden Knights in some national polls, a result that has raised questions among observers. IUP has responded on the court with consistent performances. Since a narrow one-point loss to Clarion, the Crimson Hawks have won five straight games and now hold a 21–1 record. Those results include major victories over Fairmont State and Gannon, positioning Indiana (PA) as a leading contender for the No. 1 seed in the competitive Atlantic Region.

One of the team’s greatest strengths is its balance on both ends of the floor. Indiana (PA) averages close to 80 points per game while allowing just 55.6 points per contest, highlighting its ability to control games offensively and defensively. As the regular season enters its final stretch, focus will be critical. The Crimson Hawks are set for a rematch with Clarion and key matchups against tournament-bound programs such as Seton Hill and Gannon. How IUP performs in these games will play a major role in shaping its postseason position.

No. 5, Colorado Mesa | Previous Ranking: 4. Stick a fork in the RMAC, as it is nearly finished. Okay, maybe not officially, but the Mavericks have a three-game lead after a 40-point win over the second-place club, thus they have the tiebreaker advantage if an unfathomable collapse occurs in the next four games. Olivia Reed Thyne has scored at least 25 points in four consecutive games, including a double-double in three of them, giving her 13 for the season. If we believe the South Central region is the strongest in DII right now (which it is), then the No. 2 RPI is unquestionably a top five team.

No. 6 Fort Hays State | Previous Ranking: 9. The Tigers have won four straight and are 23-2. They still have a significant game left this season against nationally ranked Pittsburg State, which they have already defeated already, so the Tigers are not out of the woods yet. Nonetheless, this club has been remarkably steady all season. So has DII’s leading scorer, Talexa Weeter, who could improve even more down the stretch. She averages 27.9 points per game, shooting 52.5 percent from the field and 41.8 percent from three, and has scored 31 or more points in three of her previous five games.

No. 7 Harding | Previous: Also considered. The Bisons have taken back their place in the Power 10 as a result of other Power 10 clubs’ losses during the last two weeks. Harding has won seven straight games, including two against nationally ranked teams at the time. The Bisons also had a solid non-conference slate to begin the season, including victories over Texas Woman’s and Tampa. The Bisons’ offense isn’t particularly strong, but they move the ball well and have a well balanced scoring attack among their starting five. With the second-best RPI in the Central and a winning streak, the Bisons are currently the team to beat in the GAC.

No. 8: Gannon | Previous Ranking: 7. This is when things get tough, since the remaining positions are very tight. Yes, Gannon fell 50-47 to Edinboro, but this team is simply too good defensively to miss out on the top ten. The Golden Knights allow only 52.0 points per game, ranking in the top five in DII, and their three losses were not due to a lack of defense. They limited nationally rated Northern Michigan to 60 points and IUP to 68 points. The Golden Knights have enough scorers, particularly Bri Claxton, to make a run, and they are currently ranked in the top ten.

No. 9 West Texas A&M | Previous Ranking: 5. The Buffs have lost one game since the previous Power 10, but I still believe this squad is too excellent to fall out of the top ten. When you consider the alternative clubs that could replace them, it makes more sense. Northern Michigan is right there, but the Wildcats recently dropped their fifth game. Nova Southeastern is good, but the Sharks have the weakest SoS among top 25 teams and have lost two games in a row to perhaps the two toughest teams they faced. All of this is to indicate that every team rated 9-13 (approximately) has tremendous attributes and analytics, but also some weaknesses. West Texas A&M has played a challenging schedule in a tough region, but they score well, defend well, and have the potential to be a tournament team.

No. 10, Lenoir-Rhyne | Previous Ranking: NR. People may think this is excessive, but the Bears are one of the hottest teams in DII. When you look at some of the other teams, like Central Washington (which just lost to Western Washington, which may be the best team in the West despite six losses) or Cal Poly Pomona (which is very good but lacks the SoS and metrics of the other three schools mentioned), things become clearer. The Bears have won 15 games in a row, including wins over nationally ranked Coker and Lincoln Memorial, and they just avenged an early-season overtime setback to UVA Wise. The Bears score a lot of points, more than 86 per game, and appear to be the team to watch in the Southeast Region.

Also considered (in alphabetical order): Bentley, Cal Poly Pomona, Central Washington, Columbus State, Lubbock Christian, Nova Southeastern, Northern Michigan, Pittsburg State, and Winston-Salem State