Feb. 12—MITCHELL — Dakota Wesleyan University women’s basketball held serve at No. 16 in the latest NAIA coaches top-25 poll, which was released on Wednesday.
The Tigers are 19-5 on the season prior to Wednesday’s contest against Morningside (Iowa) at the Corn Palace. DWU is on the road for two of its final three games on the season after the tilt against the Mustangs, starting with Concordia (Neb.) on Saturday, Feb. 19.
Dordt remains the women’s top-ranked team, but is no longer the unanimous No. 1 following a loss to Hastings on Feb. 1 after starting the year 21-0. No. 3 Southern Oregon netted three first-place votes while No. 2 Indiana Wesleyan and No. 4 Campbellsville (Ky.) picked up a first-place vote each.
Other GPAC teams include Briar Cliff staying put in the rankings at No. 5 and Hastings reentering the poll at No. 24, the only new team to enter the top-25. Northwestern also received votes. In addition, Dakota State stayed at No. 6.
In the men’s top-25 rankings, LSU Alexandria (La.) became the fifth program this season to obtain the No. 1 ranking, with former No. 1 Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) falling to No. 4. Dordt moves up to No. 7 to lead GPAC schools, followed by No. 12 Concordia and No. 13 Northwestern. Morningside is also receiving votes.
The polls are voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences and the poll no longer is used in the selection process for the national tournament field.
