League-Leading Lady Statesmen Jump into Poll at #23
William Penn Women’s Athletics
Oskaloosa–The William Penn women’s basketball team had arguably its best week in its decade-plus Midwest Collegiate Conference tenure, and as a reward for its two upsets, the program is included in Tuesday’s seventh NAIA Division II regular season poll.
The Lady Statesmen (15-7, 6-1 MCC) move from the unranked list all the way to #23 with 81 points. Winners of six in a row, including last week’s victories over then-#22 Grand View and then-#18 St. Ambrose, WPU is rated for the first time since February 7, 2011. It is also the team’s highest ranking since being #16 on January 31, 2011.
William Penn leap-frogged St. Ambrose (now #28) and Grand View (#35) for the league’s top spot in the ranking.
Indiana Wesleyan is the division’s #1 for the fourth week in a row with 312 points and 11 first-place votes. Ozarks (Mo.) is second, while Concordia (Neb.), St. Francis (Ind.), and Eastern Oregon round out the top five. Eastern Oregon received the final first-place vote.
William Penn returns to action Saturday, traveling to Dubuque to face Clarke in MCC action at 1 p.m.
NAIA Division II Women’s Basketball Rating #7 – January 29, 2013
(Number in parentheses is first-place votes)
1. Indiana Wesleyan (11)
2. Ozarks (Mo.)
3. Concordia (Neb.)
4. St. Francis (Ind.)
5. Eastern Oregon
6. Morningside
7. Concordia (Mich.)
8. Saint Xavier (Ill.)
9. Davenport (Mich.)
10. Briar Cliff
11. Northwestern
12. Olivet Nazarene (Ill.)
13. St. Thomas (Fla.)
14. Bethel (Ind.)
15. Jamestown (N.D.)
16. College of Idaho
17. Oklahoma Wesleyan
18. Roosevelt (Ill.)
19. Mayville State (N.D.)
19. Menlo (Calif.)
21. Cardinal Stritch (Wis.)
22. Milligan (Tenn.)
23. William Penn
24. Valley City State (N.D.)
25. Tabor (Kan.)
Others receiving votes: Siena Heights (Mich.) 52; St. Mary (Neb.) 44; St. Ambrose 35; Huntington (Ind.) 20; Purdue Calumet (Ind.) 14; Mount Marty (S.D.) 14; Tennessee Wesleyan 11; Oregon Tech 9; Point Park (Pa.) 8; Grand View 7; Ave Maria (Fla.) 6; Friends (Kan.) 5; Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) 4.
