Five mid-major women's basketball teams that have exceeded expectations

With the level of offseason shifts in today’s college athletics, it’s hard to predict how good teams will be when the season starts. Here are five mid-major teams that have exceeded preseason expectations in women’s college basketball on a national level.

Harvard

While Harvard was expected to be a contender in the Ivy League, it was Columbia or Princeton who the media expected to win the conference. But Harvard’s Harmoni Turner immediately proved that the Crimson are more than contenders – it’s the favorite. 

Harvard took down Indiana, Northwestern, Maine, Boston College and St. John’s in its non-conference slate. The Crimson’s lone falter was a road loss against a talented, one-loss Quinnipiac team.

Turner is averaging 20.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 3.7 steals this year. She also posted a 41-point double-double against BC in November.

Norfolk State

Norfolk State was chosen as the preseason favorite to win the MEAC, so it’s no surprise the Spartans are good. But Norfolk State is making an impact on a national level, knocking off two SEC teams on the road and nearly besting a ranked squad in Alabama. 

While it has a few iffy losses behind them, Norfolk State has clearly shown flashes of damage it could do come March. Diamond Johnson leads the team with 17.9 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.9 steals, but Kierra Wheeler has stayed steady as a phenomenal post threat. 

Northern Iowa

Northern Iowa is another team that, despite an 8-6 record, has done some real damage during their non-conference slate. They played a truly daunting schedule and took down two Power Four teams in the process – then-Top 10 Iowa State and Pittsburgh. In addition, they were two possessions or less from victories over No. 22 Iowa, Creighton, Kansas, Auburn and Ball State. 

Senior guard Maya McDermott has been a star to start this season, averaging 21.5 points, 4.9 assists and 1.4 steals in her final year of eligibility. The Panthers are my favorite to win the Missouri Valley this year. 

Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon has cemented itself as the best team in Arizona this season, taking down Arizona, Arizona State and Northern Arizona for the full state sweep. Head coach Molly Miller has built this team up over the last half-decade and the Lopes are seeing a new level of success. 

Grand Canyon is shooting the ball at a 49.5% clip, which ranks sixth nationally. The Lopes also rank 19th in the country, shooting 37.5% from beyond the perimeter. 

Saint Joseph’s

Saint Joseph’s was expected to be good this season, but an extremely narrow overtime loss at now-top 25 Utah cemented the Hawks as one of the best mid-majors in the country. They’ve taken down Syracuse and George Mason on the road, and Maine and Charleston. 

Junior Laura Ziegler is making a real case for A-10 Player of the Year honors, averaging 17.4 points, 11.2 rebounds and 4.8 assists. She’s been a major part of this team’s success, along with collectively shooting 38.7% from deep, which ranks eighth nationally.