Wednesday was a monster day for Jessica Pelzel and the Madison College women's basketball, starting with news of a national ranking and ending with a their ninth win in a row to open the 2015-16 season. Following an 8-0 start - the best since the WolfPack began their 2009-10 national championship season 10-0 - the powers that be voted coach Pelzel's club into the No. 2 spot in the NJCAA Division III polls. The WolfPack, who began the season unranked in the preseason polls, received 45 points in the voting, trailing top-ranked Roxbury (MA) by five points. Roxbury (6-0) also garnered all five first-place votes. Also in the top-10 are North Central Community College Conference foe Rock Valley (4) and Anoka-Ramsey (10), whom the WolfPack defeated 70-59 on November 6 in the Border Battle Classic.

To celebrate the #2 ranking, Madison College hit the road to finish off a five-game road stretch with a 76-59 win at Western Technical College in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The game began with an 8-2 run for the blue and silver as they built a lead as large as 13 points in the first quarter, which ended with a 24-17 WolfPack advantage. Both teams struggled to find the basket in the second quarter as the Cavaliers rallied to pull within three at the break, but Madison College won both second half quarters behind a 20-11 burst to open the third and create a double-digit lead. The advantage grew to as much a 20 in the final period.

First year forward Rachel Slaney nearly had her fourth double-double, finishing with a game-high 27 points on 8-of-17 shooting and nine rebounds. The multi-time state champion from Barneveld did most of her damage at the free throw line with ten makes on 15 attempts, nearly outshooting Western Tech (12-16) on her own. Slaney tallied her first dozen points in the opening quarter, including eight from the charity stripe. Two others finished in double figures for the WolfPack, was All-American guard Taylor Nelson - fresh off earning NJCAA Region IV Division III co-Player of the Week honors - and fellow second year Jenna Endres each had 11 points. As a team, Madison College finished just 4-for-16 (25%) from beyond the arc and 18-of 29 (62%) at the free throw line. Sophomore post Mandi Sargent dominated the glass, pulling in a game-high 14 rebounds, eight of which came on the offensive end. The New Glarus native also collected three blocks and three steals. In all, ten players scored for the WolfPack, who cashed in on 26 Cavaliers turnovers to score 33 of their points.

Madison College (9-0) returns home to play five consecutive games at Redsten Gym. They welcome Elgin Community College to Madison on Saturday, December 5 for a 1:00 p.m. tip. It is also Youth Day, meaning all youth basketball players 17-years-old and under get free admission and one free bag of popcorn at the concession by wearing their team jersey.