With just two games to go in the regular season, the women’s basketball landscape in the Atlantic 10 Conference has finally started to solidify as playoffs loom.
Only two teams held their position this week, with two of the conference’s top win streaks coming to an end. Each week, The Good Five Cent Cigar sports staff ranks the 15 teams in the conference.
Here is how the A-10 stacks up as of Feb. 24:
15th Place: La Salle University Explorers (8-21, 2-14) (-1)
La Salle played one game this week, taking on the one-conference win St. Bonaventure University. A low-scoring contest saw the Explorers leading 15-11 at halftime after allowing just two points in the second quarter. The second half told a different story, as the Bonnies recovered to hand La Salle a loss.
Now tied for last place in the conference standings, La Salle will finish its schedule with matchups against Fordham University and Virginia Commonwealth University.
14th Place: St. Bonaventure University Bonnies (6-21, 2-14) (+1)
In the battle of the bottom, only one team could prevail. St. Bonaventure nabbed its second win in conference play with a 48-41 win over La Salle on Saturday.
The win to close out the week makes it easier to forgive the earlier 44-point loss that the Bonnies received at the hands of VCU. Despite the win, there is still no chance left of escaping the first round of the postseason.
13th Place: Loyola University Chicago Ramblers (11-16, 3-13) (-)
Loyola is the first of two teams that didn’t move in our rankings, although the team certainly made a case for it. The Ramblers took a trip to the University of Massachusetts this week, suffering their 10th double-digit loss in conference play.
Now holding an eight-game losing streak, VCU and Saint Louis University are what’s left for Loyola. Saint Louis was the most recent win for the Ramblers on Jan. 18, providing some hope that they can do it again and not bring their losing ways into the tournament.
12th Place: George Washington University Revolutionaries (11-16, 4-12) (-1)
George Washington dropped two games this week to the top two teams in our rankings. A tough part of the schedule came at a tough time in the season, and it isn’t going to get any easier for the Revolutionaries.
UMass and the University of Rhode Island have big plans for the postseason, and losing to a team bound for the first round is not how either wants to close the regular season.
11th Place: Virginia Commonwealth University Rams (12-16, 6-10) (-1)
VCU did not deserve to fall in the rankings after a dominant 81-37 win over St. Bonaventure on Feb. 19, but strong play from teams ahead left us with the tough decision.
The Rams fought hard on senior day against top-seeded Richmond University, but let up a 16-2 run late. With three scorers over double digits, VCU has talent and an outside chance at a first-round bye.
It would take beating Loyola Chicago and La Salle, which is entirely possible. However, it would also take Fordham losing both of its games, as that’s the only reachable team that VCU has the head-to-head tiebreaker advantage over.
10th Place: Duquesne University Dukes (17-10, 8-8) (-2)
Duquesne lost three spots last week and two this week. Hopefully, the Dukes have gotten back on track after a senior day win over Saint Louis. The win was needed after a tough 66-63 loss in the game prior to Fordham.
The Dukes are locked in for a first-round bye and possess the third-highest-scoring offense in conference play.
9th Place: Fordham University Rams (14-13, 8-8) (+3)
Fordham jumped over Duquesne this week with its three-point victory, and kept things close in its defeat against the University of Dayton. Fourth-year guard Taya Davis scored 20 points in the loss and could be crucial for the Rams if she can become a consistent scorer down the stretch.
The Rams need at least one win to guarantee a first-round bye. Fordham could kill two birds with one stone by picking up a senior night victory over a team they recently beat in La Salle.
8th Place: Saint Louis University Billikens (12-17, 6-10) (+1)
Saint Louis has a subpar conference record but has been putting on strong performances to finish the season. The Billikens no longer possess the statistically-worst defense in the conference after a 72-63 win over Dayton to start the week.
If Saint Louis wins out, similar to VCU, it would need Fordham to lose its remaining games for an opportunity at a first-round bye. If both the Billikens and VCU win all of its games, the head-to-head tiebreaker would favor Saint Louis.
7th Place: University of Dayton Flyers (15-12, 9-7) (-1)
Dayton will settle for a first-round bye in the postseason after seemingly being destined for more. The Flyers had lost four of their last five before picking up a too-close-for-comfort 62-57 win over Fordham.
A tough matchup against Saint Joseph’s University leads into a date with St. Bonaventure to finish the season. Dayton has averaged 60.5 points in its last four games and will need to increase that number to get past the Hawks and get far in the postseason.
6th Place: University of Massachusetts Minutewomen (15-13, 10-7) (+1)
UMass continued its climb back up the rankings this week with a 25-point win over Loyola Chicago and a razor-thin two-point loss to URI.
Unfortunately for the Minutewomen, a double-bye is out of the question following their loss to Rhode Island. With just one game left, UMass will look to regain its momentum against George Washington leading into the tournament.
5th Place: George Mason University Patriots (23-5, 13-4) (-3)
At one point, George Mason appeared indestructible alongside Richmond – now the Patriots have dropped back-to-back games.
A double-bye is secured, but it is a concerning sign to see the team take its first loss in over a month to Davidson College while shooting 32.7% from the field. Even more concerning was the inability to bounce back. Thankfully, the field goal percentage returned to a more respectable 48.2% against Saint Joseph’s.
4th Place: Saint Joseph’s University Hawks (21-6, 12-4) (-1)
Saint Joseph’s suffered a close defeat to Rhode Island, but bounced back in a big way. In a marquee matchup to finish the week, the Hawks took down George Mason convincingly.
In a double-digit victory, Saint Joseph’s sent a message and proved what caliber of team it possesses. The Hawks will have to proceed with caution after the loss to URI cost them the potential postseason tiebreaker. It will be a challenge against Dayton and Richmond, but it’s what is necessary to hold on to a top-four seed.
3rd Place: University of Rhode Island Rams (16-13, 11-5) (+2)
Rhode Island had the most impressive week in the conference, defeating Saint Joseph’s and UMass. Both games were close finishes, but being able to hold on in tight games is just what a team that could make a deep tournament run wants to see.
Part of that tournament run comes with picking up a double-bye. URI has inserted itself into the conversation, but it has the tallest task ahead. Beating Saint Louis and George Washington is the first step, then the Rams’ destiny is out of their hands. If Davidson loses out, or if Saint Joseph’s drops at least one of its remaining games, Rhode Island would receive the double-bye. Any other outcome leaves Rhody as the odd team out.
2nd Place: Davidson College Wildcats (17-11, 12-4) (+2)
Davidson has built up to a seven-game winning streak at the perfect time in the season. This week the Wildcats stopped George Mason’s win streak and defeated George Washington, both by double digits. Once in the middle of the pack, the Wildcats are now in the thick of it for the three remaining double-byes.
It’s anyone’s guess on who will finish where within the top 2-5 seeds, but Davidson makes a convincing case to not be the odd one out. Facing Richmond on Wednesday could prove the end of the streak, but Fordham is a favorable matchup to finish the regular season.
1st Place: Richmond University Spiders (24-5, 15-1) (-)
Richmond is alone at the top; 14-straight wins have the Spiders two wins clear of their competition.
The No. 1 seed is locked in following a win over VCU; third-year forward Maggie Doogan scored 33 points in the victory. Richmond has the head-to-head edge over the top of the conference, leaving a stress-free finish entering playoffs.
