Jan. 14—KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Continuing a climb up the national rankings, the Dakota Wesleyan University women's basketball team landed at No. 9 in the latest NAIA top 25 poll released on Wednesday.
Since the previous rankings release on Dec. 17, the Tigers have gone 6-0, including a win over No. 3 Campbellsville (Ky.), to improve to 13-4 overall and 9-2 in the Great Plains Athletic Conference. Going back to Dec. 13, DWU is on a seven-game win streak heading into a Wednesday night contest against Waldorf at the Corn Palace.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFrom the previous poll on Dec. 17, the Tigers traded place with fellow GPAC member Concordia (Neb.) at No. 9 and No. 10, respectively. The pair is currently tied for second in the conference standings.
The Tigers' highest ranking since the NAIA condensed to one division was No. 7 on Nov. 16, 2022.
GPAC leader and two-time defending national champion Dordt reclaimed the No. 1 ranking after slipping to No. 2 in the previous poll. Other GPAC representation in the rankings includes No. 16 Briar Cliff, with Hastings receiving votes outside the top 25.
Dakota State University, of the Frontier Conference, is No. 7, slipping from No. 4.
AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWhile the top of the NAIA women's poll is flush with Great Plains Athletic Conference representation, the same cannot be said for the men's side.
In the latest poll release, the GPAC was excluded from the top 25 entirely, with conference leader Morningside and Concordia (Neb.) receiving votes. Those teams are the only members of the 11-team league with a conference mark of 7-3 or better.
Northwestern (Iowa) was ranked No. 17 on Dec. 17 but has since fallen out of the poll and is tied for fifth in the GPAC. The Red Raiders started the season at No. 8, with Morningside at No. 19 and Dordt receiving votes.
Grace (Ind.) is the final remaining undefeated NAIA men's team in the country and holds the No. 1 ranking.
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