STONY BROOK, N.Y. — The Stony Brook women's basketball team made program history Tuesday.
For the first time, the Seawolves have received a vote in the
USA TODAY/WBCA Top 25 Coaches Poll. Additionally, the team has made waves in the
CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll, rising two spots to No. 11 this week.
The Seawolves also were named the NCAA Team of the Week on Tuesday after winning their 15th straight game — one game shy of the longest active winning streak in the nation.
If that wasn't enough to celebrate, a win on Wednesday at Binghamton would move the Seawolves into a tie with Gonzaga for the NCAA's longest winning streak.
LONGEST ACTIVE WINNING STREAKS
| Team |
Overall |
Streak |
| Gonzaga |
18-1 |
W16 |
| Stony Brook |
18-1 |
W15 |
| South Carolina |
18-1 |
W12 |
| Louisville |
18-1 |
W10 |
| Princeton |
13-1 |
W9 |
| Rider |
12-2 |
W9 |
| Sam Houston St. |
13-4 |
W9 |
| Tennessee Tech |
13-4 |
W9 |
Oh, and not to mention, Stony Brook's 19-1 record with one more victory would mark sole possession of the best start in program history.
"With us having so much success this season, it's been a tough road getting and staying where we are," junior
McKenzie Bushee said. "We are a strong team. We have depth. And we give it our all. I'm proud of what we have done so far and I can't wait to see where else we are about to go."
Stony Brook's current 18-1 record matches its best start in program history, which was first achieved back in 1986-87 when head coach Dec McMullen led the Seawolves to that mark off the heels of a 15-game win streak.
Thirty-three years later, history is repeating itself once again as Stony Brook's 18-1 record is once again the product of 15 straight wins.
In order to capture the national win streak lead, the Seawolves have one hurdle left to clear: Binghamton.
The Bearcats sit at 13-5 on the season, with a 2-3 mark in the America East. Binghamton will enter Wednesday's game against the Seawolves with some momentum swinging in its favor after taking down the defending America East champion, Maine, on Saturday.
"Being recognized is a part of what we work for," Bushee said. "We work hard every day and we don't look to compare ourselves to anyone else. We are Stony Brook and that is all we focus on."
Preseason all-conference team pick Kai Moon put up 26 points against the Black Bears, while the Ramil sisters, Olivia and Annie, combined for 28 points in the Bearcats' 73-63 victory.
This year's Binghamton squad turned some heads earlier in the year, starting the 2019-20 season with a perfect 9-0 mark until being handed its first loss at the hands of Miami back in December.
"This is just like every game. We treat them all the same," Bushee said of the preparation for Binghamton. "We focus on us and we prepare through doing what Stony Brook needs to do."
