It finally happened. Ponaganset has lost a game.
It’s only right that Westerly, who has now won 17 straight games since losing on opening night, takes the top spot. Ponaganset may still be the team to beat in the postseason, but Westerly proved their mettle in a comfortable victory.
Elsewhere, Lincoln School is now the lone undefeated team at 14-0 and are steadily rising up the rankings week after week. Moses Brown has begun a downward spiral, as Cranston West has jumped them upon re-entering the rankings after appearing earlier on in the season.
Here’s the latest Rhode Island girls Top 10.
1. Westerly (17-1)
Previous rank: 3
Next game: at La Salle, Feb. 6, 7 p.m.
After losing on Dec. 13 and beginning 2025-26 with a losing record, the Bulldogs have not lost in 17 straight contests, finishing off with the most recent win over the previously undefeated and seemingly unbeatable Ponaganset. That changed in what was, surprisingly, not even a close game, as they cruised to a 67-49 victory in the end. What wasn’t surprising was Ella Reyes’ 28-point performance to lead the way. Freshman Santanaa Hamelin continued her incredible debut season with 23 points of her own. Reyes is up to 19.6 points per game on the year.
2. Ponaganset (16-1)
Previous rank: 1
Next game: vs. Pawtucket, Feb. 6, 6:30 p.m.
In a classic queen-of-the-hill situation, Ponaganset has fallen one spot after winning all 16 of its initial games. The 18-point loss is what made the difference. Their 19-game win streak, dating back to their playoff run and state championship, has been snapped. They scored just six points in the third quarter and shots just were not going down. Malia Ellis, Javiana Stec and Marron Nerney tried to keep Ponaganset in the game, but it wasn’t enough. Now, this team must reclaim its throne.
3. Barrington (16-2)
Previous rank: 2
Next game: at Juanita Sanchez, Feb. 6, 4:45 p.m.
After 13 straight wins, the Eagles’ streak came to an end at the hands of Londonderry, one of New Hampshire’s very best. They've been dominant in every other recent game and are winning with a balanced scoring attack. In the latest 54-30 win over Juanita Sanchez, 10 different players recorded points and no one scored more than the 11 points of Genesis Castro. Castro leads the team with 15.8 points per game, followed by Ella Martin’s 11.8. Barrington wants to be in the top-three conversation in the state and hopes to compete in the playoffs.
4. Lincoln School (14-0)
Previous rank: 5
Next game: vs. Johnston, Feb. 9, 5 p.m.
The lone undefeated team in the state is the Lynx. They’ve won all 14 tests thrown at them and have passed with flying colors. Again, the strength of schedule doesn’t match the top teams, but they can only win the games they play. The defensive efforts have been most impressive lately, as they held Hope to 12 points, Prout to 31 or less in two matchups and allowed just 31 against Johnston as well. Reign Whiteing has taken the reins on the team’s scoring, boasting 18.3 points per game. Sarah Berube remains close behind at 16.9 points per game and leads their assists chart. Aliviah Harris averages just over nine rebounds per game.
5. North Kingstown (14-3)
Previous rank: 6
Next game: at Pawtucket, Feb. 7, 1:30 p.m.
The Skippers have had a whirlwind of a week, with head coach Bob Simeone being placed on administrative leave due to an investigation into an unspecified allegation. Regardless, they have taken care of business. A dominant first half from Brooke Faunce led them to a big win over Connecticut’s New London, 54-38. That win extends their winning streak to eight games, including wins over Cranston West, Portsmouth and Moses Brown. North Kingstown has remained in the mix heading into the final weeks of the campaign.
6. Portsmouth (9-4)
Previous rank: 7
Next game: at Classical, Feb. 6, 6 p.m.
The Patriots tried their hand at Ponaganset and North Kingstown but could not get the job done, leaving them squarely out of the race between the contenders in the state. They sit in the next tier, looking to play spoiler in the postseason. They took care of business handily in games against La Salle, Pawtucket and Juanita Sanchez, winning by double-digits in all three. Gyselle Mairs, Stella Orr and company will need to close the season strong against a favorable schedule across the final four games.
7. Cranston West (9-7)
Previous rank: NR
Next game: at Moses Brown, Feb. 6, 5:30 p.m.
Whoever made the Falcons’ schedule had it out for them. They return to the fold with a 9-7 record, because each and every one of those seven losses came against the best of the best. They’ve got statistically the hardest schedule in the state by a decent margin, with Portsmouth and North Kingstown following closest behind. They’ve truly won all the games they were supposed to win, losing twice against NK, twice against Barrington, and once against Westerly, Ponaganset and Portsmouth. Senior Kyla Buco leads a balanced scoring attack with 10.9 points per game. Seven players average at least three points per contest for Cranston West. Senior Saniyya Chase does it all, leading the team in rebounds (7.2), assists (3.8), steals (5.4) and blocks (2.3) per game.
8. Moses Brown (11-6)
Previous rank: 4
Next game: vs. Cranston West, Feb. 6, 5:30 p.m.
The Quakers have seen one of the biggest falls this season. Lauren Bousquet can do a lot, but she can’t do it all by herself. Bousquet is at a whopping 26.8 points per game now, along with 6.2 rebounds, and has her sights set on another Gatorade Player of the Year award. Junior Marielle Nassiff picks up the rest of the scoring at 17.4 points per game. No one else contributes more than 3.3 points a game, and that’s the issue. They’ve lost four out of the last six games and will need to re-prove themselves in a rematch against Cranston West, a team that just beat them 43-31 at the end of January.
9. Exeter-West Greenwich (15-1)
Previous rank: 9
Next game: at St. Patrick Academy, Feb. 6, 4:30 p.m.
The Scarlet Knights are handling business in Division III, collecting five more victories. Junior Kate Hebert (14.6) leads the per-game scoring, but senior Nini Olawuyi (10.7) and junior Brielle Frenette (8.0) are also crucial. Olawuyi has achieved a rare feat of averaging a double-double to this point, as she also grabs 10.3 rebounds a game. Hebert gets things done on the other end of the floor as well, pickpocketing 5.7 steals per game. EWG seems like a lock for the D-III title, but Prout will try to make an upset happen in the playoffs.
10. Tiverton (12-7)
Previous Rank: 8
Next game: vs. Coventry, Feb. 6, 7 p.m.
The Tigers are hanging onto their spot in the rankings by a thread after losing to Rogers and Connecticut’s Durfee, for the second time. A rough 39-29 loss for Rogers saw them dip out of the fold completely. For Tiverton, it’s been eight wins across the last 10 games. Junior Camille Oliveira is the primary scorer at 16.4 points per game. Senior center Jah’niece Branch (10.6 points, 6.7 rebounds) and junior Sara Poland (9.5 points) are major contributors as well. Oliveira has scored at least 15 points in each of her last three games and will need to keep it up to finish the season strong.
