Senior Valerie Robuck is one of the Mules’ top defenders.

Just two years after leading all of college basketball in offense, the Muhlenberg women’s basketball team is establishing itself as one of the top defensive squads in Division III.

In the first NCAA rankings of the 2005-06 season, released yesterday, the Mules (8-1) were in the top 50 in Division III in three defensive categories. They were 18th in rebound margin (plus-9.4), 22nd in scoring defense (52.3 points per game allowed) and 44th in field-goal percentage defense (.350).

Muhlenberg also ranked 37th in scoring margin (plus-13.6), and senior Kristen Piscadlo was 16th with her average of 5.44 assists per game.

For the Mule men’s team, junior Jeff Stewart showed up in two categories – 11th in blocked shots per game (2.89) and 36th in rebounds per game (9.7).