GOLDEN SUNS BASKETBALL MOVES INTO THE TOP 10 AT NO. 10
IN THIS WEEK'S USA TODAY/ESPN D-II COACHES' TOP 25 POLL

        RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – Arkansas Tech Women’s Basketball jumped up two spots to No. 10 following its two wins last week in this week’s USA Today/ESPN WBCA Division II Top 25 Coaches’ Poll that was released on Tuesday.

Tech, who was ranked 12th in last week’s 12th poll of the regular season, was 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 (24-0) remains atop the poll for the sixth consecutive week as the Lady Statesmen are one of three undefeated teams remaining in Division II, while West Georgia (23-2) moved up three spots to No. and Valdosta State (22-4) fell one spot to 15th this week.

Tech, who is 22-3 overall on the season and 11-1 in the GSC, moved up into the Top 10 at No. 10 following its 77-62 home win last Thursday over Harding and its 71-68 win last Saturday at Arkansas-Monticello. The UAM win extended Tech’s winning streak to six straight heading into this week’s final two games of the regular season.

Delta State, who is Tech’s opponent on Thursday at Tucker Coliseum, remains No. 1 this season as they Lady Statesmen received 672 points and 26 of 27 first place votes. Following DSU in the poll is Seattle Pacific (24-0) at No. 2 and South Dakota (24-1), who received the other first place votes, moves up one spot to No. 3 after its win last week over then-previous No. 3 North Dakota, while Holy Family (26-0) jumps up two spots to No. 4 and Drury (23-2) rounds out the Top 5 at No. 5.

North Dakota (24-2) falls three spots to No. 6 and is followed by West Georgia at No. 7 and Concordia-St. Paul (25-2) falls three spots to No. 8. Alaska-Anchorage (23-3) jumps up two spots to No. 9 and Tech rounds out the Top 10 at No. 10.

Stonehill (22-4) headlines the next 10 at No. 11 and is followed by Fort Lewis College [CO] (25-2) at No. 12 and Indiana [PA] (23-3) falls four spots to No. 13. Anderson (24-2) jumps one spot to No. 14, while Valdosta State is at No. 15 and West Texas A&M (21-4) remains 16th this week. Washburn (21-4) remains 17th and is followed by Hillsdale [MI] (23-3) at No. 18, Franklin Pierce (22-4) jumps one spot to No. 19 and Cal State-Chico (22-5) rounds out the Top 20 at No. 20.

The final five of this week’s poll begins with Tusculum [TN] (23-3) at No. 21 and is followed by Emporia State (19-6) at No. 22, Francis Marion (20-5) at No. 23, California [PA] (20-5) jumps into the poll at No. 24 and West Liberty State (24-4) moves into this week’s poll at No. 25.

The Golden Suns will return to action on Thursday, Feb. 28, when they welcome the top-ranked Lady Statesmen for a 5:30 p.m. contest at Tucker Coliseum. The game will mark the home finale for Tech’s three seniors – forward Krishna Baker (Little Rock, Ark.), forward Daiane Domingos (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and center Ruby Vaden (Blytheville, Ark.). Tech fell 65-63 earlier this season in Cleveland, Miss., to the Lady Statesmen.

          Complete USA Today/ESPN Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll

 -- Tech Athletics --