The Fort Hays State women's basketball team found itself atop the WBCA Division II Coaches Poll for the second week in a row, announced Tuesday by the coaches association. The Tigers, now 5-0 on the year, also held on to the No. 2 slot in the latest D2SIDA Media poll, also released Tuesday morning.
This is the fourth DII coaches poll release in which the Tigers are ranked first in the country. FHSU also spent two weeks ranked atop the national polls in the 2015-16 season (12/8/15, 12/15/15). The Tigers are now 5-1 in games as the top-ranked team in the country and 116-31 all-time when ranked in the coaches poll.
Fort Hays State picked up two additional first-place votes from the previous release, coming in on top of 16 of 22 ballots submitted this week. The Tigers increased their point total by 15, up to 537 points, and increased its lead over second-ranked Lubbock Christian to 31 points.
Two other MIAA programs are ranked in the coaches poll, including 5-1 Nebraska-Kearney sitting in 21st and 4-3 Central Missouri coming in 25th for the second week in a row. Emporia State, Saturday's opponent, is just outside the Top 25, sitting atop the schools listed in the also receiving votes category.
The Tigers added four points to its total in the media poll, up to 368 points this week. FHSU is 19 points behind top-ranked Alaska-Anchorage and 10 points ahead of third-ranked Texas A&M-Commerce. The Tigers racked up a pair of first-place votes in the media poll for the second week in a row.
A pair of MIAA teams are also ranked in the media poll, with ESU sitting in 18th and Nebraska-Kearney slotted 20th.
Fort Hays State has been listed in the top 25 at some point during nine of the last 10 seasons, including appearances in the top five in six of the last eight campaigns.
The Tigers will open conference play on the road this week when they travel to Washburn on Wednesday (Dec. 1, 5:30 p.m.) and to Emporia State on Saturday (Dec. 3, 1:30 p.m.)
WBCA DII Coaches Poll - November 30, 2021
1. Fort Hays State (16) 5-0
2. Lubbock Christian (4) 8-1
3. Drury 8-14
4. North Georgia (2) 6-0
5. Texas A&M-Commerce 6-0
6. Lander 5-1
7. Gannon 4-0
8. Alaska Anchorage 5-0
9. Glenville State 4-0
10. Indiana, Pa.6-0
11. Ashland 4-1
12. Azusa Pacific 4-1
13. Grand Valley State 5-0
14. Western Washington 5-0
15. Tampa 8-2
16. Lee, Tenn.7-0
17. Barton 4-0
18. Valdosta State 4-1
19. Colorado Mines 5-1
20. Union, Tenn.3-2
21. Nebraska-Kearney 5-1
22. Southwestern Oklahoma St. 6-2
23. Michigan Tech 5-1
24. CSU Pueblo 4-1
25. Central Missouri 4-3
D2SIDA Media Poll - November 30, 2021
1. Alaska-Anchorage (11) 5-0
2. Fort Hays State (2) 5-0
3. Texas A&M-Commerce 6-0
4. Drury (1) 8-1
5. Lander (1) 5-1
6. Lubbock Christian 8-1
7. North Georgia 6-0
8. Lee (1) 7-0
9. Gannon 4-0
10. Indiana (Pa.) 6-0
11. Western Washington 5-0
12. Grand Valley State 5-0
13. Colorado Mesa 5-0
14. Catawba 6-0
15. Tampa 8-2
16. Ashland 4-1
17. Glenville State 4-0
18. Emporia State 5-1
19. Colorado School of Mines 5-1
20. Nebraska-Kearney 5-1
21. Bentley 3-2
22. Valdosta State 4-1
23. California (Pa.) 4-0
24. USciences 4-1
T25. Saint Martin's 5-1
T25. Southwestern Oklahoma St. 6-2