GOLDEN SUNS BASKETBALL FALLS THREE SPOTS TO NO. 13 IN
THIS WEEK'S USA TODAY/ESPN WBCA D-II TOP 25 COACHES' POLL

        RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – Arkansas Tech Women’s Basketball fell three spots to No. 13 in this week’s 14th USA Today/ESPN WBCA Division II Top 25 Coaches’ Poll that was released on Tuesday.

Tech, who moved into the top 10 to No. 10 last week, fell to No. 13 this week after going 1-1 last week, as it lost 73-71 at home to top-ranked and undefeated Delta State and then concluded the regular season last Saturday with a 63-57 win at Ouachita Baptist. Tech remained one of four Gulf South Conference schools once again ranked in this week’s Top 15.

The USA Today/ESPN WBCA Coaches’ Poll is voted on weekly by a panel of 29 head coaches at NCAA Division II institutions and all the coaches are members of the WBCA (Women’s Basketball Coaches Association).

In addition to Tech, Delta State (26-0) remains atop the poll for the seventh consecutive week as the Lady Statesmen are one of three undefeated teams remaining in Division II, while West Georgia (24-3) fell four spots to No. 11 and Valdosta State (23-4) jumped one spot to No. 14.

Delta State, who won the GSC West Division for the third consecutive season after defeating Tech last week, remains No. 1 this week as they Lady Statesmen received 647 points and 25 first place votes. Following DSU in the poll is Seattle Pacific (25-0) at No. 2 and South Dakota (26-1), who received the other first place votes, remains third this week. Holy Family (28-0) remains fourth this week and North Dakota (25-2) moved up one spot to No. 5.

Concordia-St. Paul (26-2) jumps two spots to No. 6 and is followed by Alaska-Anchorage (25-3) at No. 7 and Drury [MO] (24-3) falls three spots to No. 8. Fort Lewis College (26-2) moves up three spots to No. 9 and Stonehill (23-4) leaps one spot to No. 10.

West Georgia, the GSC East Division champion, headlines the next 10 at No. 11 and is followed Anderson (26-2) at No. 12, Tech at No. 13 and Valdosta State at No. 14. West Texas A&M (23-4) jumps one spot to No. 15, while Indiana [PA] (24-4) falls three spots to No. 16 and Franklin Pierce (23-4) moves up two spots to No. 17. Cal-State Chico (24-5) jumps two spots to No. 18 and is followed by Tusculum (24-3) at No. 19 and Washburn (22-5) falls three spots to No. 20 this week.

The final five begins with Emporia State (21-6) at No. 21 and is followed by California [PA] (22-5) at No. 22 and Hillsdale [MI] (23-4) falls five spots to No. 23. Saint Mary’s [TX] (23-4) and Michigan Tech (21-7) complete this week’s poll at Nos. 24 and 25 respectively.

The Golden Suns will return to action on Thursday, March 6, when they open up play in the 2008 GSC Tournament against West Alabama at 12:30 p.m. at the DeSoto County Civic Center in Southaven, Miss. Tech enters the tournament as the No. 2 seed from the West Division, while West Alabama is the No. 3 seed from the East Division. Tech already has defeated the Lady Tigers twice this season, a 76-74 overtime win in Livingston, Ala., and a 77-69 win in Russellville in the team’s most recent meeting on Jan. 5.

          Complete USA Today/ESPN Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll

 -- Tech Athletics --