Ranked sixth in the latest D2SIDA Southeast Region Poll, Meagan Price's Tusculum squad has been one of the more difficult teams to score on this season. Opponents are shooting a league-worst 33.3 percent against the Pioneers while scoring a league-low 47.8 points per game. On offense, graduate transfer Jami Tham has provided the spark. Tham has recorded a double-double in all eight games this season and is averaging 17.1 points and 13 rebounds per game. Tham's strong inside play has aided Tusculum to the second-best rebound margin in NCAA Division II as the Pioneers outrebound their opponents by 15.1 rebounds per game. In the midst of a five-game winning streak, Tusculum is outscoring opponents by 31.8 points per game during the stretch. 

Behind a balanced offensive attack, UVA Wise has tied its best start to a season as a NCAA Division II school at 6-1. Most recently, Josie Hester netted a team-high 18 points while Katlin Burger and Nia Vanzant each tallied 14 in a 71-60 win over Winston-Salem State. The game also senior Caitlyn Ross become the 24th woman in program history to reach 1,000 career points but, it was the team's defensive effort that turned the tide in the contest. Kaitlin Bailey blocked a NCAA Division II era program record nine shots while adding a season-high 12 rebounds as the Cavaliers held the Rams to 25.6 percent shooting for the game. It was the best defensive output by UVA Wise since holding Shepherd to 24.6 percent shooting in 2018. Overall, the Cavs dished out 21 assists in the win, led by Ross' 10. Ross enters Wednesday's game as the nation's assist leader at 8.7 per game and her 479 career assists stand 51 behind Amber Carter's school record of 530. Burger has turned into a consistent scoring threat for Head Coach Jamie Cluesman. Dating back to last season, Burger has scored in double figures in 12 consecutive games. The forward ranks second in the league in field goal percentage at 56 percent.