Women's Basketball Ranked 25th Nationally
Big Rapids, Mich. - The Ferris State University women's basketball team is beginning to receive national recognition for its performance this season as the Bulldogs cracked the national rankings this week (Feb. 7) for the first time in nearly five years.
After receiving votes for the past several weeks, the Bulldogs are listed 25th nationally this week in the USA Today/ESPN Division II Coaches Top 25 Poll administered by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. FSU is one of two Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) schools in the rankings this week along with number five Ashland.
This week's ranking marks the first time FSU has been ranked nationally since finishing 25th in the final poll of the 2006-07 season on March 27, 2007. That poll was released at the end of the 2006-07 season in which Ferris State reached the NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen by winning a pair of games in the NCAA Division II Tournament.
Additionally, FSU's ranking this week represents the first time the Bulldogs have been found among the nation's top 25 teams in a WBCA regular-season poll in almost 12 years. The Bulldogs last were ranked in a regular-season poll at the 22nd spot on Feb. 29, 2000.
FSU currently owns a 15-4 overall record and is in first place in the GLIAC North Division standings with a 12-1 league record to date under head coach Tracey Dorow. The Bulldogs have won their last nine consecutive games and have yet to lose in the 2012 calendar year.
This week, Ferris State continues league play by hosting Lake Erie for the first-time ever on Thursday (Feb. 9) at 6 p.m. (ET) inside Jim Wink Arena. Then, on Saturday (Feb. 11), the Bulldogs welcome nationally fifth-ranked Ashland for a GLIAC showdown between the two divisional leaders beginning at 1 p.m. (ET).
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Women's USA TODAY ESPN Division II Top 25 Poll: Week 9 Poll: February 7, 2012 |
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|
Rank |
Institution - First Place Votes |
Last Week's Rank |
Record |
Points |
|
1 |
University of California - San Diego -30 |
1 |
22-0 |
750 |
|
2 |
Edinboro University (Pa.) |
2 |
20-0 |
714 |
|
3 |
Wayne State College (Neb.) |
4 |
21-2 |
650 |
|
4 |
Clayton State University (Ga.) |
5 |
20-2 |
616 |
|
5 |
Ashland University (Ohio) |
6 |
20-1 |
611 |
|
6 |
Fort Lewis College (Colo.) |
7 |
18-2 |
575 |
|
7 |
Bentley University (Mass.) |
9 |
19-3 |
530 |
|
8 |
Metropolitan State College of Denver (Colo.) |
3 |
19-2 |
527 |
|
9 |
Washburn University (Kan.) |
11 |
20-3 |
509 |
|
10 |
Pittsburg State University (Kan.) |
12 |
20-2 |
463 |
|
11 |
Rollins College (Fla.) |
14 |
17-3 |
381 |
|
12 |
University of Alaska - Anchorage |
8 |
20-4 |
371 |
|
13 |
Arkansas Tech University |
13 |
15-3 |
359 |
|
14 |
Northeastern State University (Okla.) |
10 |
19-3 |
357 |
|
15 |
University of South Carolina - Aiken |
16 |
17-3 |
346 |
|
16 |
Grand Canyon University (Ariz.) |
15 |
17-2 |
345 |
|
17 |
Lander University (S.C.) |
19 |
17-3 |
299 |
|
18 |
Gannon University (Pa.) |
20 |
17-3 |
261 |
|
19 |
University of Wisconsin - Parkside |
24 |
17-4 |
191 |
|
20 |
Indiana University of Pennsylvania |
17 |
17-3 |
157 |
|
21 |
Emporia State University (Kan.) |
22 |
15-5 |
105 |
|
22 |
California State Polytechnic University - Pomona |
NR |
15-5 |
85 |
|
23 |
University of District of Columbia |
NR |
17-3 |
61 |
|
24 |
Johnson C Smith University (N.C.) |
NR |
16-4 |
60 |
|
25 |
Ferris State University (Mich.) |
NR |
15-4 |
53 |
Others Receiving Votes: Dowling College (N.Y.) 47; Florida Southern College 43; Southern Connecticut State University 40; Tarleton State University (Texas) 40; Newman University (Kan.) 34; Augustana College (S.D.) 31; University of Indianapolis (Ind.) 30; University of Alabama - Huntsville 17; Michigan Technological University 12; Northern Kentucky University 12; Tusculum College (Tenn.) 12; Pace University (N.Y.) 8; University of Central Missouri 8; Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania 7; Catawba College (N.C.) 5; Southern New Hampshire University 5; California State University - Monterey Bay 4; Midwestern State University (Texas) 4; Shaw University (N.C.) 4; Holy Family University (Pa.) 3; Assumption College (Mass.) 2; Delta State University (Miss.) 2; West Virginia Wesleyan 2; Lenoir-Rhyne University (N.C.) 1; Philadelphia University (Pa.) 1.
The USA TODAY ESPN board of coaches is made up of 33 head coaches at Division II institutions. All are members of the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). The 2011-12 board: Carmen Dolfo - Non-voting Chair (Western Washington University), Linda Cimino (Caldwell College), Mike Brandt (University of South Carolina - Aiken), Lester Butler (University of the District of Columbia), Dennis Cox (Clayton State University), Charity Elliott (University of California - San Diego), Corey Fox (Limestone College), Meghan Burke Brown (Southern Connecticut State University), Chris Kielsmeier (Wayne State College), Cleve Wright (Gannon University), Kelly Kruger (Adams State College), Ferne Labati (Seton Hill University), Shawna Lavender (Abilene Christian University), Jason Martens (Saint Mary's University, Texas), Patrick Mashuda (Chowan University), Stephen McDonald (Fairmont State University), Claudette Charney (Hillsdale College), Tim Kirby (Harding University), Todd Starkey (Lenoir Rhyne University), Tim O'Hagan (Molloy College), Sandra Rushing (Delta State University), Rick Stein (University of Southern Indiana), Paul Fessler (Concordia University, St. Paul), Latricia Trammell (Western State College of Colorado), Tracey Dorow (Ferris State University), Phillip Wallace (Miles College), Sally Brooks (Angelo State University), Glenn Wilkes (Rollins College), Lane Lord (Pittsburg State University), Nancy Winstel (Northern Kentucky University), Tim Moser (University of Alaska, Anchorage), Trent May (Grand Canyon University), and Van Girard (California State Univ. Dominguez Hills).
*Please note that all voters for the DII poll are required to vote each week between 9 p.m. Sunday and 1 p.m. Tuesday ET.
