One-Loss WPU Remains 20th
by Wade Steinlage
Oskaloosa–The William Penn women’s basketball team won all four its contests since the last rating, but that was not enough to sway the pollsters as the NAIA released its second Division I rating Wednesday.
The Statesmen (12-1, 7-1 Heart), who claimed a lopsided road win over a top-25 team during this most-recent stretch, did not budge at all as they are still #20 with 93 points. WPU is one of five Heart of America Athletic Conference programs in the rating, including three in the top 25. MidAmerica Nazarene leads the way in a tie at #2, while Central Methodist is #23. Baker is unofficially 29th and Evangel is 35th.
Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) takes over as unanimous #1 with 219 points and all nine first-place votes. Columbia (Mo.) is tied with MNU for second, while Montana Western and Vanguard (Calif.) round out the top five.
William Penn is home Saturday, hosting Graceland in Heart action at 2 p.m.
NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball Rating #2 – January 2, 2019
(Number in parentheses is first-place votes)
1. Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) (9)
2. Columbia (Mo.)
2. MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.)
4. Montana Western
5. Vanguard (Calif.)
6. Wayland Baptist (Texas)
7. Campbellsville (Ky.)
8. Shawnee State (Ohio)
8. Carroll (Mont.)
10. Oklahoma City
11. Menlo (Calif.)
12. Talladega (Ala.)
13. Providence (Mont.)
14. Our Lady of the Lake (Texas)
15. Westmont (Calif.)
16. Lewis-Clark State (Idaho)
17. Bethel (Tenn.)
18. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
19. Lyon (Ark.)
20. William Penn
21. The Master’s (Calif.)
22. Rocky Mountain (Mont.)
23. Central Methodist (Mo.)
24. William Jessup (Calif.)
25. LSU Alexandria
Others Receiving Votes: Mid-America Christian (Okla.) 29, Georgetown (Ky.) 28, Loyola (La.) 20, Baker (Kan.) 15, Arizona Christian 14, Huston-Tillotson (Texas) 13, William Woods (Mo.) 12, Xavier (La.), Martin Methodist (Tenn.) 7, Evangel (Mo.) 4.
