The Fort Hays State women's basketball team moved up in both national polls once again this week, climbing to fifth in the WBCA Division II coaches poll while moving up five spots to seventh in the D2SIDA Media Poll, both released Tuesday (Feb. 23).
The Tigers remain the top team in the MIAA after taking solo possession of first place in the league standings while FHSU is now the top-ranked team in the Central Region due to Minnesota Duluth's loss to St. Cloud State last week. Two other MIAA schools are listed in the top 25, with Nebraska-Kearney coming in 14th in the coaches poll and receiving votes in the media poll while Central Missouri is now 15th in both national polls.
The Tigers have played 14 games as the fifth-ranked team in the country, second-most of any spot in the polls (18 games at No. 3). FHSU is 11-3 all-time when ranked fifth in the coaches poll, including a 2-2 record as the fifth-ranked team last season.
With a one game cushion in the league standings and two games to play, the Tigers need just one win this week to secure at least a share of the regular season conference title. Fort Hays State will look to secure that victory Thursday (Feb. 25) when the Tigers hit the road to face off with Missouri Western beginning at 5:30 p.m. in St. Joseph, Mo.
WBCA DII Coaches Poll - Week 4
1. Lubbock Christian (22) 13-0
2. Lander 14-0
3. Drury 14-1
4. Hawaii Pacific 9-0
5. Fort Hays State 18-2
6. North Georgia 14-1
7. Charleston, WV 13-1
8. Valdosta State 16-2
9. Minnesota Duluth 10-1
10. Michigan Tech 15-1
11. Texas A&M-Commerce 10-2
12. Daemen 9-1
13. Carson-Newman 14-2
14. Nebraska Kearney 17-3
15. Central Missouri 17-3
16. West Texas A&M 14-3
17. Glenville State 8-1
18. Grand Valley State 13-3
19. Southwestern Oklahoma St. 13-2
20. Arkansas Tech 10-1
21. Western Colorado 13-2
22. Tuskegee 12-1
23. Gannon 9-1
24. Belmont Abbey 17-2
25. Tusculum 15-2
D2SIDA Media Poll - Week 7
1. Lubbock Christian (16) 13-0
2. Hawaii Pacific 9-0
3. Lander 14-0
4. Drury 14-1
5. Charleston (W.Va.) 13-1
6. Valdosta State 16-2
7. Fort Hays State 18-2
8. North Georgia 14-1
9. Daemen 9-1
10. Michigan Tech 15-1
11. Minnesota-Duluth 10-1
12. Gannon 9-1
13. Western Colorado 13-2
14. Glenville State 8-1
15. Central Missouri 17-3
16. Grand Valley State 13-3
17. Belmont Abbey 17-2
18. Colorado School of Mines 14-3
19. Georgian Court 7-0
20. Union (Tenn.) 14-4
T21. Arkansas Tech 10-1
T21. West Texas A&M 14-3
23. Point Loma Nazarene 8-3
24. Barton 9-1
25. Truman State 12-3