Men’s and women’s basketball teams ranked in the Top Ten

In the first USCAA basketball coaches’ poll of the season, both Central Penn teams are ranked in the top ten for Division 2. The men’s team was voted #3 and the Lady Knights #8.

Men’s

The men’s team, 2–3, received 285 votes, slightly behind #2 Berkeley College–NY (295) and #1 Villa Marie (298). The Knights face Berkeley in a home game next weekend on Sunday, Dec. 9, at East Pennsboro High School.

“Right now we are focused on becoming the best team we can be on and off the court,” says Knights Coach Dave Archer. “We love the respect we have earned as a program, but we are focused on getting better.”

Central Penn has a tough, road-heavy, non-conference schedule for November and December. “I feel we haven't had a chance to play our best basketball, and with only two games played in the USCAA so far, we know it’s a long season left,” says Archer.

The team’s three losses have come against three NCAA D1 schools: Howard, UMES and Elon. They face two more such opponents––Campbell and Davidson––in December, along with two, tough NAIA teams, Campbell and Lindsey Wilson.

“Our non-USCAA scheduled this year has been one of the toughest yet,” says the third-year coach. “We are further along as far as learning and coming together than previous years, but we are dedicated to working to put ourselves in position to be there at the end, that's our only goal!”

Women’s

The #8-ranked Lady Knights, 7–1, received 213 votes, with #1 Central Maine CC collecting 248. “It is a school first to have the women’s team ranked in the top 10 and this team is very deserving!” says Coach Kasey Hicks. 

After losing their first game against Penn State Dubois, the Lady Knights have won seven straight, including victories over NCAA-affiliated SUNY Delhi and Penn State Greater Allegheny in overtime. On Thursday, they defeated Christendom 65–51 at home.

“The top-ten ranking right now puts us where we need to be to make a run for a tournament bid,” says Hicks. “We still have half of the season left, so our work is hardly over––this is just a motivator to keep pushing and keep climbing. I have no doubt that’s what these girls will do!”

Up next for the Lady Knights is conference rival Vaughn College in a home game on Saturday, Dec. 8 at 2:30 p.m.