COLUMBIA, S.C. (BC SID) — The Benedict College women’s basketball team continues to climb in the national polls. Benedict moved up one spot to 14
th in this week’s USA Today Sports Division II women’s basketball poll. Benedict climbed one spot to 12
th in the Women’s Basketball Division II Media Poll, sponsored by D2SIDA.
The Lady Tigers are 24-2 overall. They received 267 points from the panel of 27 Division II women’s basketball coaches.
Benedict is the only SIAC team ranked in the top 25, although Kentucky State received 25 points. They are one of three teams from the South Region.
Benedict received 209 points in the Media Poll. They are one of three teams representing the South Region in that poll.
The Lady Tigers wrapped up the regular season with a 14-2 record in the SIAC. They will be the No. 1 seed in the East Division and will have a bye in the 2016 SIAC Tournament until Wednesday, March 2. The SIAC Tournament will be played in Birmingham, Ala.
The USA TODAY Sports Division II Top 25 women’s basketball coaches’ 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 Rank |
Record |
Total Points |
| T1 |
Lubbock Christian University (Texas) – 11 |
T1 |
24-0 |
581 |
| T1 |
University of Alaska – Anchorage – 11 |
T1 |
30-1 |
581 |
| 3 |
Limestone College (S.C.) -2 |
3 |
25-0 |
550 |
| 4 |
California Baptist University |
4 |
24-1 |
528 |
| 5 |
Lewis University (Ill.) |
6 |
26-1 |
489 |
| 6 |
Ashland University (Ohio) |
5 |
26-1 |
478 |
| 7 |
Missouri Western State |
7 |
24-2 |
429 |
| 8 |
Winona State University (Minn.) |
9 |
27-2 |
425 |
| 9 |
Fort Hays State University (Kan.) |
10 |
23-3 |
387 |
| 10 |
Union University (Tenn.) |
11 |
25-2 |
367 |
| 11 |
Drury University (Mo.) |
12 |
22-3 |
330 |
| 12 |
West Texas A&M University |
9 |
23-3 |
315 |
| 13 |
Virginia Union University |
13 |
22-2 |
294 |
| 14 |
Benedict College (S.C.) |
15 |
24-2 |
267 |
| 15 |
Arkansas Tech University |
14 |
21-3 |
266 |
| 16 |
West Liberty University (W.Va.) |
16 |
23-3 |
201 |
| 17 |
Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) |
18 |
22-3 |
200 |
| 18 |
Nova Southeastern University (Fla.) |
17 |
22-4 |
196 |
| 19 |
Pittsburg State University (Kan.) |
19 |
23-4 |
177 |
| 20 |
University of California – San Diego |
20 |
21-3 |
141 |
| 21 |
Anderson University (S.C.) |
21 |
19-4 |
113 |
| 22 |
Emporia State University (Kan.) |
22 |
21-5 |
103 |
| 23 |
Quincy University (Ill.) |
23 |
22-4 |
82 |
| 24 |
Columbus State University (Ga.) |
24 |
21-4 |
63 |
| 25 |
Bellarmine University (Ky.) |
25 |
20-3 |
50 |
Dropped Out: None.
Others receiving votes: University Of Sioux Falls (S.D.) 40; Kentucky State University 25; Ursuline College (Ohio) 24; Clayton State University (Ga.) 20; Wheeling Jesuit University (W.Va.) 19; California State University – East Bay 13; Lander University (S.C.) 11; Shaw University (N.C.) 7; Colorado State University – Pueblo 6; Northern State University (S.D.) 5; American International College (Mass.) 4.
4 teams mentioned on only one ballot for a total of 13 combined points.
The USA TODAY Sports committee of coaches is made up of 27 head coaches at Division II institutions. All are members of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). The 2015-16 committee: Chris Kielsmeier (Wayne State University (Neb.)), Chancellor Dugan (Bellarmine University) and Claudette Charney (Hillsdale College) – Non-voting Chairs, Suzy Barcomb (California State University – East Bay), Mark Miller (Holy Family University), Jacques Curtis (Shaw University), Russ Gregg (Erskin College), Beth Naumovski (Queens College), Tim Kirby (Harding University), Kirk Martin (Cedarville University), Carrie Lohr (Wayne State University (Mich.)), Katie Vaughn (University of Missouri – St. Louis), Julie Heisey (Seattle Pacific University), Scott Groninger (University of West Georgia), Jason Martens (St. Mary’s University), Noel Johnson (Midwestern State University), Ronda Hubbard (Missouri Southern State University), Kristin Kunzman (University of Virginia – Wise), Trisha Brown (Stonehill College), Sheila Green-Gerding (Minot State University), Jarrod Olson (California Baptist University), Mike Brandt (University of South Carolina – Aiken), Jess Strom (California University of Pennsylvania), Jason Flores (Fort Lewis College), Sarah Jansen (Mars Hill University), James Rice(Benedict College), and John Reynolds (Florida Institute of Technology).
2015-16 Women’s Basketball Division II Media Poll – Feb. 23, 2016
The Women’s Basketball Division II Media Poll, sponsored by D2SIDA, in its second year of existence. The regional poll will be released every Monday, followed by the national poll every Tuesday. Each region has six representatives that comprise the regional poll. The national poll has 16 voters – 2 from each region.
National Poll – Week 14 – Feb. 23, 2016
| Rank |
School (First-place votes) |
W-L |
Points |
Prev. |
Last week’s results |
| 1 |
Lubbock Christian (10) |
24-0 |
392 |
1 |
WA St. Edward’s (95-44), WA Texas-Permian Basin (109-56) |
| T2 |
Limestone (2) |
25-0 |
377 |
2 |
WH Emmanuel (80-65); WH Converse (70-54) |
| T2 |
Alaska Anchorage (4) |
30-1 |
377 |
3 |
WA Saint Martin’s (71-59); WA Seattle Pacific (70-46) |
| 4 |
Lewis |
26-1 |
347 |
4 |
WH Indianapolis (64-55); WH Saint Joseph’s (56-49 OT) |
| 5 |
Cal Baptist |
24-1 |
328 |
5 |
WA Point Loma (88-70) |
| 6 |
Missouri Western |
24-2 |
321 |
6 |
WA Central Oklahoma (88-78); WA Northwest Missouri (66-59) |
| 7 |
Union |
25-2 |
293 |
8 |
WA-North Alabama (80-67), WH-Alabama-Huntsville (84-70) |
| 8 |
Ashland |
26-1 |
283 |
9 |
WR Ohio Dominican (74-65); WA Tiffin (85-69) |
| 9 |
West Texas A&M |
23-3 |
249 |
7 |
WH Texas A&M-Commerce (63-58), LA Tarleton State (53-52) |
| 10 |
Fort Hays State |
23-3 |
240 |
14 |
WH Lindenwood (84-66); WH Lincoln (91-63) |
| 11 |
West Liberty |
23-3 |
225 |
11 |
WA WV Wesleyan (86-56), WA Glenville State (101-100 OT) |
| 12 |
Benedict |
24-2 |
209 |
13 |
WH-Clark Atlanta (78-43), WA-Paine (67-52) |
| 13 |
UC San Diego |
21-3 |
208 |
12 |
WA Cal State San Marcos (84-56) |
| T14 |
Winona State |
27-2 |
175 |
10 |
WH Wayne State College (73-55); WA Augustana University (69-59) |
| T14 |
Drury |
22-3 |
175 |
15 |
WH Maryville (83-58); WH Missouri-St. Louis (73-59) |
| 16 |
American Int’l |
22-4 |
168 |
17 |
WH Saint Rose (66-54) |
| 17 |
Wheeling Jesuit |
23-3 |
150 |
16 |
WH Glenville State (71-58), WH WV Wesleyan (89-54) |
| 18 |
Columbus State |
21-4 |
140 |
T18 |
WH Montevallo (76-57); WH North Georgia (81-69) |
| 19 |
Nova Southeastern |
22-4 |
99 |
20 |
WA-Embry-Riddle (75-52), WH-Eckerd (83-64) |
| 20 |
Virginia Union |
22-2 |
84 |
21 |
WA Elizabeth City State (87-61), WH Chowan (67-53) |
| 21 |
Azusa Pacific |
22-3 |
78 |
22 |
WH Concordia Irvine (103-44) |
| 22 |
Roberts Wesleyan |
22-4 |
75 |
T25 |
WA Daemen (76-63); WH NYIT (81-64); WH LIU Post (67-60) |
| 23 |
Pittsburg State |
23-4 |
61 |
23 |
WA Central Missouri (68-64); WA Southwest Baptist (65-50) |
| 24 |
Clayton State |
21-4 |
37 |
NR |
WA Georgia College (77-65); WH Young Harris (51-40) |
| 25 |
Quincy |
22-4 |
32 |
T25 |
WR Rockhurst (72-69); WR William Jewell (68-57) |
Dropped Out: Bentley, Arkansas Tech
Receiving Votes: Bentley (25), Colorado Mines (17), Emporia State (12), Florida Southern (12), Arkansas Tech (4), Bellarmine (4), Cal State East Bay (3)
