Rankings climb continues for Pride women's basketball, now at No. 15 in NAIA poll

KANSAS CITY, Mo. - In the final NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll of the 2021 calendar year, the Clarke University women's basketball team jumped up two spots into the No. 15 spot as NAIA officials announced the latest poll Wednesday morning.

This continues a steady climb up the rankings for the Pride, who started the season ranked No. 19 and have moved up to be ranked No. 18, 17, and now 15 in the following polls.

CU is 10-2 on the season and currently on a seven-game winning streak that includes starting Heart of America Athletic Conference play off 4-0 with wins over Peru State, Graceland, Evangel, and Culver-Stockton.

Individually, Clarke is led on the offensive end by four scorers in double figures and one right on the fringe of double figures as Emma Kelchen (13.4 ppg), Taylor Haase (12.2 ppg), Nicole McDermott (10.7 ppg), and Giana Michels (10.7 ppg) all averaging over 10 with Tina Ubl (9.9 ppg) right on the outside of that mark.

Kelchen and Haase spell each other nicely in the post with Kelchen starting at the center position and Haase coming off of the bench as both will appear on the floor together during certain stretches. Their success has led to individual honors during the year as both student-athletes have earned the Heart Player of the Week honor at different times during the year.

Two other Heart teams find themselves in the rankings in this edition as Central Methodist University remains the top ranked team in the conference at No. 14 after being ranked as high as No. 7 and Benedictine College entering the rankings for the first time this season as No. 25. 

Clarke women's basketball will continue their 2021-22 season with a pair of games this week at the Kehl Center starting on Thursday when they host Mount Mercy University at 5:30 p.m. CT. They will head into their Christmas break after hosting No. 19 St. Xavier University on Saturday for a 12:00 p.m. CT tip.