GOLDEN SUNS BASKETBALL REMAINS RANKED NO. 1 IN LATEST
NCAA DIVISION II SOUTH REGIONAL POLL

         INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – Arkansas Tech Women’s Basketball stayed atop this week’s second installment of the NCAA Division II South Region poll that was released on Wednesday. The rankings list the Top 10 teams in the each of the NCAA’s eight D-II regions.

Tech, who is 18-1 overall, 5-1 in the GSC West Division and 14-1 in the South Region, is ranked first in this week poll despite suffering a 78-72 loss on Monday at Christian Brothers. The loss to the Lady Buccaneers isn’t reflected in this week’s poll because the poll only goes through games played on Sunday, Jan. 31. The Golden Suns, who are ranked seventh in this week’s USA Today/ESPN Division II Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, are one of four Gulf South Conference teams in this week’s second South Regional Poll.

At the end of the season, the top eight teams from each region will receive bids to the 64-team NCAA D-II Tournament. To be considered for selection into the national tournament, each team must play at least 18 games against teams within its region or against Division II schools in contiguous states. The regional rankings will be released every Wednesday through March 3. The top team in each region will have an opportunity to host the first two rounds of the 64-team National Championship Tournament. Only games played against NCAA D-II institutions are considered by the committee.

In addition to Tech, other GSC teams ranked in the second South Region poll are Delta State (15-2 D-II, 15-2 South Region) at No. 3, Valdosta State (11-7 D-II, 11-7 South Region) at No. 8 and Christian Brothers (11-5 D-II, 11-4 South Region) is ranked 10th after being at No. 8 last week.

Fort Valley State (19-1 D-II, 18-1 South Region) leads the way for non-GSC teams in the second South Region poll at No. 2. Other teams ranked are Tampa (15-2 D-II, 12-2 South Region) at No. 4, Rollins (13-5 D-II, 8-5 South Region) at No. 5, Barry [FL] (11-4 D-II, 9-4 South Region) at No. 6 and Florida Southern (16-4 D-II, 10-3 South Region) at No. 7 and Kentucky State (11-6 D-II, 11-6 South Region) moves into this week’s rankings at No. 9.  

Tech will return to action on Thursday, Feb. 4, when they travel to Magnolia, Ark., to face Southern Arkansas in a 5:30 p.m. contest at the W.T. Watson Athletic Center and then will conclude the week at home on Saturday against Arkansas-Monticello. Tip-off for Saturday’s game is set for 4 p.m. at Tucker Coliseum.   

-- Tech Athletics --