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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 12, 2007
Women's Basketball
Ranked 24th In USA Today/WBCA Coaches Poll
Lilburn, Ga. -
After starting the season a perfect 7-0, the Missouri Southern women's
basketball team has moved into the USA Today/Women's Basketball Coaches
Association Division II National Poll, debuting at No. 24 this week.
The Lions have started the season 7-0 for
the second straight year and have five regional wins over St. Edwards
(2), Incarnate Word, Quincy and Panhandle State. Southern is coming off
a 15-point win last Friday night at Panhandle State. The Lions are also
the lone remaining undefeated team in the region.
The Lions return to the poll for the
first time since the 1995-96 season, when Southern was ranked 25th in
the final regular season poll. MSSU is one of three MIAA teams in the
poll joining Washburn (8th) and Emporia State (14th).
Southern ranks in the top three within
the MIAA in 11 different offensive and defensive categories, including
leading the league in defense, scoring margin, opponent's field goal
percentage (lowest) and opponent's three point field goal percentage
(lowest). The Lions rank second in rebounding and blocked shots, while
ranking third in three point field goal percentage, opponents rebounds
(lowest), rebounding margin, offensive and defensive rebounds.
"The national notoriety is great for Missouri Southern and our program,"
said head coach Maryann Mitts. "It has been our intent since the day we
started here to be ranked both academically and athletically. On one
side, it means up to this point in the season we have positioned
ourselves as one of the top teams in the country, but on the flip side,
it doesn't really effect where we go from here."
|
Rank |
Institution - First Place Votes |
Previous
Ranking
|
Record
|
Points
|
| 1. |
University of
North Dakota - 23 |
1
|
8-0
|
671
|
| 2. |
Delta State
University (Miss.) - 3 |
2
|
7-0
|
648
|
| 3. |
University Of
California-San Diego |
4
|
7-0
|
606
|
| 4. |
University Of
Alaska Anchorage |
5
|
9-0
|
597
|
| 5. |
Indiana
University Of Pennsylvania |
6
|
9-0
|
562
|
| 6. |
Drury University
(Mo.) |
12
|
5-1
|
474
|
| 7. |
Valdosta State
University (Ga.) |
11
|
9-1
|
472
|
|
8. |
Washburn
University (Kan.) |
3
|
6-1
|
463
|
| 9. |
Concordia
University, St. Paul (Minn.) |
15
|
7-0
|
432
|
| 10. |
Southern
Connecticut State University |
8
|
6-2
|
346
|
| 11. |
Clayton State
University (Ga.) |
10
|
5-2
|
340
|
| 12. |
California State
University, Chico |
9
|
6-2
|
329
|
| 13. |
Northern
Kentucky University |
17
|
5-1
|
305
|
|
14. |
Emporia State
University (Kan.) |
7
|
4-2
|
302
|
| 15. |
Stonehill
College (Mass.) |
22
|
9-0
|
297
|
| 16. |
Holy Family
University (Pa.) |
19
|
6-0
|
281
|
| 17. |
Texas A&M
University-Commerce |
18
|
7-2
|
208
|
| 18. |
Seattle Pacific
University (Wash.) |
NR
|
5-0
|
184
|
| 19. |
West Texas A&M
University |
20
|
5-2
|
181
|
| 20. |
Florida
Institute of Technology |
23
|
5-1
|
144
|
| 21. |
University of
South Carolina Aiken |
24
|
6-1
|
126
|
| 22. |
University Of South Dakota |
NR
|
8-1
|
124
|
| 23. |
Shaw University
(N.C.) |
16
|
5-2
|
113
|
|
24. |
Missouri
Southern State University |
NR
|
7-0
|
102
|
| 25. |
Minnesota State
University, Mankato |
NR
|
7-0
|
89
|
Italics Indicate a
2007-08 opponent
Dropped Out:
Glenville State College (W. Va.); Augustana College
(S.D.); Bentley College (Mass.); University of Tampa
(Fla.).
Others Receiving
Votes: Augustana College (S.D.) - 84; Glenville
State College (W. Va.) - 56; University of West Georgia
- 34; Michigan Technological University - 28; Anderson
University (S.C.) - 20; Bentley College (Mass.) - 18;
Ferris State University (Mich.) - 16; Franklin Pierce
University (N.H.) - 16; University Of Nebraska - Kearney
- 16; Assumption College (Mass.) - 13; Johnson C. Smith
University (N.C.) - 10; American International College
(Mass.) - 9; Barry University (Fla.) - 9; University Of
Tampa - 9; Lander University (S.C.) - 7; Newberry
College (S.C.) - 6; Rollins College (Fla.) - 6;
University Of Central Oklahoma - 5; Georgia College &
State University - 4; North Georgia College & State
University - 4; West Liberty State College (W. Va.) - 3;
Columbus State University (Ga.) - 2; Sonoma State
University (Calif.) - 2; Armstrong Atlantic State
University (Ga.) - 1; Hillsdale College (Mich.) - 1
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