SARASOTA, Fla. - Under the direction of head coach Brian Cruz, the New College of Florida women's basketball program has posted the best start before winter break in school history, entering the break with a 7–4 overall record.

Cruz, who has led the Mighty Banyans in each of the program's first three seasons, has guided NCF to a strong non-conference and early Sun Conference showing, highlighted by multiple season sweeps and consistent defensive performances.

The Mighty Banyans have earned season sweeps of Trinity College, winning both matchups at home, Fort Lauderdale with wins both home and away, and Beacon College with victories at home and on the road. NCF also added a road win over Trinity College of Jacksonville during the stretch.

Despite four losses on the resume, all have come by 10 points or fewer. That includes a two-possession loss at home against Florida National, 52–48, and a one-possession home loss to Sun Conference foe Ave Maria, 65–62.

Defensively, NCF has emerged as one of the top units in the Sun Conference and across the NAIA.

The Mighty Banyans lead the Sun Conference and rank tied for eighth nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 51.6 points per game. NCF also paces the Sun Conference in defensive rebounding margin at +8.8 and has limited opponents to just 23.4% shooting from three-point range, which ranks first in the conference and 17th nationally.

Individually, senior forward Sania Thomas made program history by becoming NCF's first-ever Sun Conference Player of the Week, winning the honor in Week 2 of the Sun Conference season by scoring 13 points, grabbing 14 rebounds, picking up six steals and dishing a pair of assists in the Mighty Banyans' season-opening win over Trinity College. Thomas currently leads the Sun Conference in field goal percentage at 63.6% while ranking fourth on the team in scoring at 8.9 points per game, second in rebounding at 7.0 per game, and second in steals at 2.1 per contest.

Offensively, three Mighty Banyans are averaging double figures in scoring. Senior forward CiCi Moore leads the team at 12.9 points per game while also averaging a team-high 9.9 rebounds. Moore has recorded two double-doubles this season and is tied for the team lead in blocks at 1.1 per game.

Junior Gwen Tsoukalas follows closely at 12.5 points per game and leads the team in steals at 2.4 per contest.

Senior Halle Shelt is averaging 10.3 points per game and has knocked down a team-high 32 three-pointers.

Additional contributors include senior point guard Camila Zbynski, who is averaging a team-best 4.3 assists per game, and junior forward Julia Pacheco, who is posting 7.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Pacheco is tied for the team lead with 1.1 blocks per game and has recorded two double-doubles on the season.

NCF will return to action following the winter break on Jan. 3 with a road matchup at Keiser. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. EST. The Mighty Banyans will then return home on Jan. 7 to host Coastal Georgia, with tip-off set for 5 p.m.