The following "Starting Five" points offer a quick look inside GLVC women's basketball action this week:
[1 | non-league action continues] GLVC women's basketball teams playing this week will
face non-conference opponents, that began with Illinois Springfield's road trip to Oakland City Monday night and a 97-73 win. Two days separate that contest from Indianapolis playing host to IU-Kokomo Thursday evening before two others hit the court Friday night. One of those teams is Southern Indiana, which will be in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to face two UPR teams Friday and Saturday. Maryville will be joining the Screaming Eagles down south for two similar games Saturday and Sunday.
[2 | three remain in wbca rankings] Bellarmine, Drury and Lewis represent the Great Lakes Valley Conference in the Women's Basketball Coaches' Association (WBCA) NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Poll,
it was announced Tuesday (Dec. 13). Bellarmine (8-0) was idle last week but managed to move up a spot in the poll from No. 5 to No. 4. Drury (9-2) was 1-1 in last week's games and dropped two places to No. 13, while Lewis (9-2) moved from No. 18 to No. 23 after a league win and an uncharacteristic loss in the non-conference.
[3 | top-5 teams, individuals in ncaa stats] Bellarmine continues to be tied for first in won-lost percentage with its 8-0 undefeated mark. Southern Indiana is ranked third for scoring margin, besting its opponents by 29.9 points on average. Lewis is still in the top five for field-goal percentage with a 49.0 mark that's fourth-best in the country. Individually, William Jewell's Maddie Nelson continues to lead the way in minutes played, averaging 38.50 per contest. Lewis' Jessica Kelliher impresses with her shooting, as the sophomore ranks second in field goals made with 91 and third for field-goal percentage at 66.9. Redshirt-senior teammate Jamie Johnson is fifth for field-goal attempts (168), while Illinois Springfield's Syerra Cunningham's mark for rebounds per game (13.1) also ranks No. 5. For a full look at all statistical categories and where GLVC teams and players rank, visit
NCAA.org.
[4 | two named allstate good works team nominees] The Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA), the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) and Allstate Insurance Company recently announced an all-time high 278 nominees for the
2017 Allstate WBCA and NABC Good Works Teams. This esteemed award honors an outstanding group of student-athletes who represent the sport's finest in the areas of community service and leadership among their peers. Flyers' redshirt-senior Jamie Johnson and Hawks' senior Mary Dineen were the two league players nominated. The Allstate WBCA and NABC Good Works Teams recognizes players at all levels of college basketball whose charitable involvement and altruistic acts stand out amongst all other student-athletes participating in the sport.
[5 | mckendree sets ncaa record] Against Central Christian College (Mo.) on Dec. 7, McKendree
set a NCAA single-game record by not committing a personal foul during the entire 40 minutes of play in a 73-29 blowout win at home in Lebanon.