ARKANSAS TECH UNIVERSITY

ATHLETICS 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 3, 2009
Contact: Ben Greenberg, SID (479) 968-0645

GOLDEN SUNS BASKETBALL RECEIVES TWO VOTES IN LATEST
USA TODAY/ESPN WBCA D-II COACHES' TOP 25 POLL

        RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas Arkansas Tech Women’s Basketball received two votes in this week’s 13th USA Today/ESPN WBCA Division II Top 25 Coaches’ Poll that was released on Tuesday.

Tech, who is 19-8 overall on the season and 9-5 in the GSC, earned votes in this week’s poll after going 1-1 last week. Tech opened the week with a 71-66 overtime home win last Thursday over Arkansas-Monticello and then closed the regular season with a disappointing 67-61 loss on Saturday at Christian Brothers. Tech had now been either ranked or has received votes in 11 of the 13 polls this season.

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). This season, Tech Head Coach Dave Wilbers is one of the voters in this year’s poll.

Tech is one of five Gulf South Conference schools that are receiving votes in this week’s poll. Delta State received 29 votes to be second among teams receiving votes, while West Georgia received 11 votes and Arkansas-Monticello earned 10 votes after its loss to Tech. The final GSC team receiving votes this week is Valdosta State as the Lady Blazers received one vote in this week’s poll.

In addition to the three GSC foes, another of Tech’s opponents this season was mentioned in this week’s poll as Fort Lewis (25-2 on the season) remained fourth in this week’s poll. Fort Lewis posted a 73-64 overtime win over the Golden Suns at Rollins’ Thanksgiving Classic on Nov. 29 in Winter Park, Fla.

Minnesota State-Mankato (26-1 on the season) leads the poll for the second straight week as they earned 675 points and 27 first place votes. Northern Kentucky (25-2 on the season) remained second, while California [PA] (24-3 on the season) remains third and Alaska-Anchorage (26-3 on the season) follows Fort Lewis at No. 5 this week.

Hillsdale [MI] (24-3 on the season) moves up two spots to No. 6 and is followed by UC-San Diego (26-3 on the season) at No. 7 and Seattle Pacific (19-4 on the season) moves up two spots to No. 8. Quincy [IL] (24-3 on the season) climbs three spots to No. 9 and Emporia State (23-3 on the season) falls five spots to No. 10 in this week’s poll.

The second 10 begins with Washburn (23-4 on the season) at No. 11 and they are followed by Central Oklahoma (23-4 on the season) at No. 12 and Tusculum (23-4 on the season) at No. 13. Francis Marion (24-3 on the season) falls seven spots to No. 14, while West Texas A&M (22-4 on the season) falls four spots to No. 15. Indiana [PA] (22-5 on the season) and St. Mary’s [TX] (23-4 on the season) are tied at No. 16 and are followed by Michigan Tech (22-5 on the season) at No. 18, Franklin Pierce (21-5 on the season) at No. 19 and District of Columbia (22-4 on the season) falls one spot to No. 20 this week.

Fort Valley State (23-4 on the season) leaps to two spots to No. 21 and are followed by Rollins [FL] (23-4 on the season) at No. 22. Gannon [PA] (24-3 on the season) and Lenoir-Rhyne (23-4 on the season) are tied at No. 23 and Holy Family (25-4 on the season) remains at No. 25 in this week’s poll.

The Golden Suns will return to action on Thursday, March 5, when they open up play in the 2009 GSC Tournament against Valdosta State. Tip-off is set for 2:45 p.m. at the DeSoto County Civic Center in Southaven, Miss.   

USA TODAY ESPN Division II Top 25 Coaches' Poll

Week 13 Poll: March 3, 2009

USA TODAY ESPN Division II Top 25 women's basketball poll, with first-place votes to the right, total points based on 25 points for first place through one point for 25th.

Rank

Institution - First Place Votes 

Previous Poll

Record

Points

1.

Minnesota State University-Mankato (27)

1

26-1

675

2.

Northern Kentucky University

2

25-2

638

3.

California University of Pennsylvania

3

24-3

610

4.

Fort Lewis College (Colo.)

4

25-2

592

5.

University of Alaska-Anchorage

6

26-3

548

6.

Hillsdale College (Mich.)

8

24-3

517

7.

University of California, San Diego

9

26-3

503

8.

Seattle Pacific University (Wash.)

10

19-4

454

9.

Quincy University (Ill.)

12

24-3

447

10.

Emporia State University (Kan.)

5

23-3

437

11.

Washburn University (Kan.)

13

23-4

406

12.

University of Central Oklahoma

14

23-4

369

13.

Tusculum College (Tenn.)

15

23-4

302

14.

Francis Marion University (S.C.)

7

24-3

279

15.

West Texas A&M University

11

22-4

264

t16.

Indiana University of Pennsylvania

17

22-5

234

t16.

Saint Mary's University (Texas)

18

23-4

234

18.

Michigan Technological University

20

22-5

195

19.

Franklin Pierce University (N.H.)

21

21-5

166

20.

University of District of Columbia

19

22-4

162

21.

Fort Valley State University (Ga.)

23

23-4

138

22.

Rollins College (Fla.)

22

23-4

120

t23.

Gannon University (Pa.)

24

24-3

108

t23.

Lenoir-Rhyne University (N.C.)

16

23-4

108

25.

Holy Family University (Pa.)

25

25-4

89

 

Dropped Out: None.

Others Receiving Votes: Stonehill College (Mass.) - 32; Delta State University (Miss.) - 29; University of Tampa (Fla.) - 28; Clayton State University (Ga.) - 25; Bentley University (Mass.) - 13; Northwood University (Mich.) - 11; University of West Georgia - 11; University of Arkansas- Monticello - 10; College of Saint Rose (N.Y.) - 7; Minnesota State University, Moorhead - 6; Clark Atlanta University (Ga.) - 3; Arkansas Tech University - 2; American International College (Mass.) - 1; University of Charleston (W.Va.) - 1; Valdosta State University (Ga.) - 1.

Tech opponents denoted in Bold/Italics
GSC teams denoted in Italics

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