OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The Johnson County women's basketball team has taken over the No. 1 spot in the first poll of 2024 following road wins against No. 12 North Central Missouri and Southeast. The Lady Cavaliers received all nine first place votes. Iowa Western moved up five spots to No. 2 followed by Rock Valley, Kirkwood and CCBC Essex. Kirkwood was the previous top ranked team but suffered losses to Lake Land on December 29 and at Iowa Western on January 3. This is the 61st time head coach Ben Conrad's team has held the No. 1 spot.
Johnson County is 16-0 on the season and rank as the second-best defensive team in the country, holding opponents to just 45.3 points per game. Opponents are also only making 28.7 percent of their field goal attempts, which is also second best in the country.
On the offensive end, the Lady Cavaliers average 79.3 points, 12th best nationally, but rank third in field goal accuracy at 46.2 percent.
Johnson County will put its No. 1 ranking to the test on Saturday when the host Highland who just moved into the top 20 at No. 19.