Wednesday, December 14, 2005
LADY SAINTS RECEIVE VOTES IN USA TODAY ESPN DIVISION II COACHES POLL
Dahlonega, Ga. – North Georgia College & State University got its first look at a national ranking in the NCAA today as the Lady Saints basketball team received five votes in this week's USA Today ESPN Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll released by the WBCA.
North Georgia is off to a 6-0 start, its best since the 2001-2002 season, and is 2-0 in the Peach Belt Conference.
The Lady Saints have had no problem adjusting to life in the NCAA and PBC so far this season. North Georgia is averaging 85.2 points-per-game while holding opponents to only 56.2 points-per-game. The Lady Saints will look to continue the unbeaten streak tomorrow as they take on UNC Pembroke for a PBC showdown at 5:30 p.m. in Memorial Gymnasium.
Under the direction of 12th year head coach Buffie Burson, the Lady Saints were a perennial power-house in the NAIA as Burson led the team to seven NAIA National Tournaments in eight seasons. Last year, the Lady Saints advanced to the second round of the tournament before bowing out to eventual national champion Union University in a thrilling overtime game. This season, North Georgia will have to be content chasing after their fifth straight regular season conference championship. The NGCSU athletic programs are unable to compete in NCAA Championships due to their recent move from the NAIA to the NCAA.
In this week's poll, Washburn University remained the top team in the country with a 7-0 record and 18 first place votes. Drury University continues to hold second place this week with an 8-0 record and three first place votes. The University of North Dakota jumped one spot to third in the poll while Seattle Pacific University fell from third to 10th this week with a 4-2 record.
Clayton State University is the only other PBC team to receive votes in this week's poll, with 23 total votes. Regional opponents Carson-Newman College and Shaw University were both ranked in the top 25. CN is ranked 15th this week and Shaw is 23rd. Wingate University, North Carolina Central University, and Mars Hill College each received votes in the poll this week. The Lady Saints December 19 opponents, Delta State University, received seven votes as well.
The USA Today ESPN Board of Coaches is made up of 27 head coaches at Division II institutions. All are members of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).
USA TODAY ESPN DIVISION II TOP 25 COACHES' POLL
(Released December 13, 2005)
Rank |
Institution (First Place Votes) |
Last Week's Rank |
Record |
Points |
1. |
Washburn University (Kan.) (18) |
1 |
7-0 |
593 |
2. |
Drury University (Mo.) (3) |
2 |
8-0 |
575 |
3. |
University of North Dakota (3) |
4 |
11-0 |
553 |
4. |
University Of Charleston (W.Va.) |
5 |
6-0 |
513 |
5. |
Emporia State University (Kan.) |
6 |
10-0 |
500 |
6. |
Saint Cloud State University (Minn.) |
7 |
9-0 |
466 |
7. |
Western Washington University |
8 |
5-0 |
442 |
8. |
Henderson State University (Ark.) |
10 |
6-1 |
372 |
9. |
Grand Valley State University (Mich.) |
9 |
8-2 |
367 |
10. |
Seattle Pacific University (Wash.) |
3 |
4-2 |
363 |
11. |
California State University - Chico |
11 |
6-1 |
353 |
12. |
Glenville State College - Glenville (W.Va.) |
13 |
8-0 |
348 |
13. |
Valdosta State University (Ga.) |
14 |
7-1 |
298 |
14. |
Lake Superior State University (Mich.) |
12 |
6-1 |
291 |
15. |
Carson-Newman College (Tenn.) |
16 |
7-1 |
247 |
16. |
Rollins College (Fla.) |
18 |
9-0 |
241 |
17. |
West Texas A&M University |
22 |
9-0 |
161 |
18. |
Central Missouri State University |
19 |
6-2 |
160 |
19. |
American International College (Mass.) |
23 |
8-0 |
154 |
20. |
Angelo State University (Texas) |
17 |
7-2 |
152 |
21. |
Fairmont State University (W.Va.) |
20 |
6-1 |
123 |
22. |
University Of Minnesota-Duluth |
25 |
10-1 |
85 |
23. |
Shaw University (N.C.) |
15 |
3-3 |
76 |
24. |
Florida Gulf Coast University |
NR |
10-0 |
75 |
25. |
California University (Pa.) |
21 |
6-3 |
46 |
Others Receiving Votes: Regis University - 32; Fort Valley State University - 26; Saint Augustine's College - 24; Clayton College & State University - 23; Stonehill College - 23; North Carolina Central University - 22; California State University - Bakersfield 15; Michigan Tech. University - 14; Lewis University - 10; California State Poly University - Pomona 9; Delta State University - 7; Missouri Western State - 7; Wheeling Jesuit University - 7; Paine College - 6; Wingate University - 6; North Georgia College & State University - 5; Southern Conn. St. University - 4; Pace University - 3; Bellarmine University - 2; Mars Hill College - 1.
2005-2006 opponents in italics
Regional opponents in bold
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