NYU women's basketball breaks Division III record with 82nd straight victory

The Violets surpass Washington University's previous mark of 81 consecutive wins, with only four opponents keeping the margin of victory under 10 points during their nearly three-year undefeated stretch.

Published on Feb. 9, 2026

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The NYU women's basketball team set a new Division III record with their 82nd consecutive victory, surpassing the previous mark of 81 set by Washington University of St. Louis between 1998 and 2001. The Violets, who are the back-to-back defending national champions, have been dominant during their nearly three-year undefeated streak, with only four opponents keeping the margin of victory under 10 points.

Why it matters

NYU's record-breaking run highlights the program's sustained excellence and the Violets' status as one of the most dominant teams in college basketball, regardless of division. The streak has cemented the team's reputation and brought national attention to the program, which has built a winning culture under head coach Meg Barber.

The details

In their 69-58 win over Carnegie Mellon on Sunday, the Violets were led by senior guard/forward Caroline Peper, who scored 27 points, including a crucial 3-pointer late in the game that sealed the victory. Peper is the only player on the current roster who was with the team for their last loss in 2023. Head coach Meg Barber, who played at NYU from 1998 to 2002 and returned as coach in 2018, has built the program into a juggernaut, emphasizing a game-by-game approach and a defiant, competitive attitude.

  • NYU set the Division III record with their 82nd consecutive victory on February 9, 2026.
  • The Violets' last loss came in the Elite Eight of the 2023 Division III postseason tournament.

The players

Meg Barber

The head coach of the NYU women's basketball team, who played for the Violets from 1998 to 2002 and returned as coach in 2018, building the program into a national powerhouse.

Caroline Peper

The only senior on the NYU roster, Peper is the only player who was with the team for their last loss in 2023. She has embraced a leadership role this season, helping to bridge the gap from last year's team and strengthen the 'NYU Sisterhood'.

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What they’re saying

“It's been an interesting journey. You know, on its surface, it really was just about winning a tough conference game on the road and just trying to go 1-0, but from an outside noise perspective, the team was obviously aware of the record and what that singular game would mean for this program, potentially being in the record books.”

— Meg Barber, Head Coach (The Athletic)

“As the only senior on the team, my goal this year has been to bridge the gap from last year to this year and moving forward. I don't take the NYU Sisterhood lightly, and I want to make sure that the bond is even stronger.”

— Caroline Peper (NYU Athletics)

What’s next

With the Division III record in the books, the Violets now have their sights set on chasing some of the most historic streaks in college basketball, including the UCLA men's record of 88 straight wins and the UConn women's record of 111 consecutive victories.

The takeaway

NYU's record-breaking run has cemented the Violets' status as one of the most dominant teams in college basketball, regardless of division. The program's success under head coach Meg Barber has been built on a defiant, competitive attitude, strong leadership, and a commitment to building a winning culture and 'NYU Sisterhood' that has sustained the team's excellence over nearly three years of undefeated play.