The Atlantic 10: a conference filled to the brim with buzzer beater finishes, high intensity play and paradoxical upsets.
Every week, The Good Five Cent Cigar sports staff will vote on these teams to generate a power ranking of the conference’s basketball programs.
Here are the women’s basketball rankings as of Feb. 25:
15th: University of Massachusetts Minutewomen (3-26 OVR) (1-16 A-10) (-)
With their 14th and 15th straight losses coming this past week to Loyola University Chicago (64-52) and George Washington University (59-55), the Minutewomen still retain a tie with St. Bonaventure for the longest losing streak in the A-10.
The season of new lows for UMass are continuing, after the co-regular season champions from under a calendar year ago now sit in the bottom of the power rankings.
14th: St. Bonaventure University Bonnies (4-23 OVR) (1-15 A-10) (-)
When it comes to the Bonnies, at least they aren’t “that team.” Tied with UMass for the longest A-10 losing streak at 15, St. Bonaventure separates themselves from the A-10’s floor by just 0.5 games.
The Bonnies also dropped two games this past week against George Mason University (57-53) and Saint Louis University (83-61). While the hopes of doing anything substantial in the A-10 tournament are a long shot, at this point getting out of the first round is a win.
13th: La Salle University Explorers (7-20 OVR) (4-12 A-10) (-)
Six games have passed since the Explorers have tallied 60 points in a contest, and it’s no surprise that La Salle has lost all of those games as well.
This past week, Virginia Commonwealth University (75-50) and the University of Richmond (74-54) served as the victors over La Salle and kept the Explorers searching for their first win in February.
12th: George Washington University Revolutionaries (11-17 OVR) (4-12 A-10) (-1)
The first team in the power rankings to win a game this past week, the Revolutionaries edged out UMass 59-55 to exit the week at .500 after losing to Duquesne 79-69.
George Washington’s roller coaster of a February now continues, with a second month record of 3-4. More consistency is needed if the Revolutionaries want to do any damage in the tournament.
11th: University of Dayton Flyers (11-16 OVR) (5-11 A-10) (+1)
After Davidson College was forced to forfeit on Wednesday night, a late substitution by the University of Miami Ohio (Hamilton) resulted in a 112-45 throttling of the Junior College program.
However, the Flyers’ winning ways did not last long as a 64-61 defeat to Loyola Chicago struck Dayton’s wings and sent them back down to the ground.
10th: Loyola University Chicago Ramblers (14-14 OVR) (8-9 A-10) (-)
Consecutive wins came at the right time for Loyola Chicago as the Ramblers will transfer into their final game of the season with wins against UMass (64-52) and Dayton (64-61).
With only one contest this coming week against George Washington, the Ramblers are fighting for seeding as they have already likely secured a first-round bye.
9th: Davidson College Wildcats (18-9 OVR) (8-8 A-10) (-1)
With an injury-stricken locker room and not enough players to service a roster, Davidson’s postseason hopes are unfortunately over before they have started.
The Wildcats have been forced to forfeit their last two games against Dayton and Fordham, resulting in them dropping down to .500 in the Atlantic 10. It is currently unknown by most when Davidson will be able to play a game next.
8th: Saint Louis University Billikens (12-17 OVR) (7-9 A-10) (-1)
Another .500 team this past week, Saint Louis dropped their first game to Fordham 79-64 before leaping over St. Bonaventure 83-61.
With just two more games before Henrico, Virginia, and a first-round bye most likely clinched, the last week of the season for the Billikens is just a seeding battle.
7th: Fordham University Rams (12-15 OVR) (7-9 A-10) (+2)
With two technical wins this past week, Fordham is trending upwards in the A-10 standings. An initial 79-64 win over Saint Louis was complemented with a Davidson forfeit.
The positive week has placed the Rams with a chance to finish at .500 in conference play and even secure a first round bye for the A-10 tournament. They just have to get through Saint Joseph’s University and La Salle this coming week.
6th: University of Rhode Island Rams (17-12 OVR) (9-7 A-10) (-)
After a full week’s rest, Rhode Island was unable to convert a late comeback attempt and fell short of the A-10’s top contender, St. Joe’s, on the road, 72-67.
With a double-bye out of reach, the Rams are fighting this week to retain their top end of the second round status intact.
5th: University of Richmond Spiders (24-5 OVR) (14-2 A-10) (-3)
A .500 week for Richmond including post-regulation play gave the Spiders a roller coaster of a week that dropped them three spots in the power rankings.
The celebration from an initial 74-54 win over La Salle was cut short by a 82-76 overtime loss against George Mason. Richmond now has to gather up their belongings and start again.
4th: Duquesne University Dukes (18-9 OVR) (13-3 A-10) (-1)
Possessing the longest winning streak in the A-10, Duquesne won games five and six in a row this past week against Saint Louis (82-65) and George Washington (79-69).
The Dukes continue to trend upwards in the A-10 as the season closes as they are one of five teams contending for a double-bye in the A-10 tournament.
3rd: George Mason University Patriots (22-5 OVR) (13-3 A-10) (+2)
After knocking down Richmond in overtime 82-76, George Mason is moving themselves even closer to a double-bye for the A-10 tournament.
The Patriots also picked up another win earlier last week when they edged out St. Bonaventure 57-53. If George Mason can continue in their winning ways down the stretch, they can be a team to watch come tournament time.
2nd: Virginia Commonwealth University Rams (24-4 OVR) (13-3 A-10) (+2)
Winners of seven of their last eight games, VCU is steamrolling through the conference lately, taking down top-ranked St. Joes this week 59-48.
The Rams also took care of La Salle 75-50, walking out of the week with two wins. Two more victories this week could secure them a double-bye in the A-10 tournament or even give them a regular season title.
1st: Saint Joseph’s University Hawks (25-3 OVR) (14-2 A-10) (-)
Despite falling to VCU 59-48, the Hawks have still won 12 of their last 13 contests and have sole possession of first place in the Atlantic 10.
St. Joes also defeated Rhode Island to bounce back from the loss 72-67. At this point, it is the Hawks’ race to lose as they enter the final week of the season.