FHSU Sports Information Department
The latest edition of the WBCA Division II Poll was released on Tuesday (Jan. 5). After enjoying nearly a month at No. 1 in the nation, Fort Hays State only slipped two spots in the latest poll to No. 3. The Tigers went 4-1 overall in their stay at No. 1 from December 8 to January 5.
Fort Hays State is still the highest ranked team from the MIAA in the poll. The MIAA boasts three teams within the top 15, led by FHSU at No. 3. Emporia State with two losses on the season is still in the top 10 at No. 8. The Hornets started the year at No. 1 in the preseason rankings and stayed there for the first two regular-season polls until the No. 5 ranked Tigers took the No. 1 ranking with a 71-70 win over the Hornets in Hays on December 5. Fort Hays State held the No. 1 ranking for two regular season polls as well.
Missouri Western surprisingly remains outside the top 10 at No. 13, despite its 14-0 overall and 8-0 MIAA record. That record will be tested soon as the Griffons face a tough stretch starting on January 13 having to travel to Washburn, then Emporia State, followed by home games against FHSU and Nebraska-Kearney, then road games at Pittsburg State and Missouri Southern. Missouri Western has seen a tremendous leap in success this year after going 15-12 overall last year. The Griffons are led by LaQuinta Jefferson, the MIAA’s top scorer at 23.5 points per game, now in her second year at MWSU. She was a national junior college player of the year candidate that initially committed to Louisiana State University before opting to play at Missouri Western.
As the No. 1 team, FHSU defeated Nebraska-Kearney in overtime to protect its ranking in the poll released on December 15. FHSU then went on the road to win at Central Missouri but took its first loss of the season at Southwest Baptist on December 19. Since the WBCA does not release a poll over the holiday break, FHSU remained No. 1 in the poll and took on Pittsburg State (receiving votes in the poll) and Missouri Southern at home on January 2 and 4. FHSU won both of those contests to post a 4-1 record in its stay at the top.
Fort Hays State has remained in the top 10 of the national rankings in all five regular season polls, going from No. 7, to No. 5, to No. 1 for two polls, and now back to No. 3. The Tigers were No. 10 in the preseason poll.
The Tigers continue the grind of MIAA play on Thursday (Jan. 7) and Saturday (Jan. 9) at Lindenwood and Lincoln, looking to keep pace with Missouri Western at the top of the MIAA standings. Missouri Western plays just once this week against last-place Northwest Missouri State.
Below is the WBCA Division II Top 25 Poll for January 5, 2016.
| Rank | Institution – First Place Votes | Previous Rank | Record | Total Points |
| 1 | West Texas A&M University – 20 | 2 | 12-0 | 596 |
| 2 | University of Alaska – Anchorage – 1 | 5 | 16-1 | 515 |
| 3 | Fort Hays State University (Kan.) | 1 | 12-1 | 509 |
| 4 | California Baptist University | 6 | 10-1 | 480 |
| 5 | Lubbock Christian University (Texas) – 3 | 12 | 11-0 | 438 |
| 6 | Drury University (Mo.) | 4 | 10-1 | 428 |
| 7 | Ashland University (Ohio) | 11 | 12-0 | 423 |
| 8 | Emporia State University (Kan.) | 3 | 11-2 | 417 |
| 9 | Lewis University (Ill.) | 7 | 12-1 | 412 |
| 10 | Limestone College (S.C.) | 8 | 9-0 | 406 |
| 11 | Nova Southeastern University (Fla.) | 10 | 12-1 | 383 |
| 12 | Winona State University (Minn.) | 9 | 14-1 | 371 |
| 13 | Missouri Western State | 16 | 14-0 | 357 |
| 14 | Columbus State University (Ga.) | 15 | 10-1 | 279 |
| 15 | Anderson University (S.C.) | 17 | 8-1 | 208 |
| 16 | West Liberty University (W.Va.) | 19 | 10-1 | 204 |
| 17 | Union University (Tenn.) | 14 | 12-2 | 170 |
| 18 | Benedict College (S.C.) | 24 | 14-1 | 150 |
| 19 | Quincy University (Ill.) | 23 | 11-1 | 133 |
| 20 | Virginia Union University | 20 | 8-1 | 122 |
| 21 | American International College (Mass.) | NR | 13-0 | 110 |
| 22 | Delta State University (Miss.) | 22 | 10-1 | 99 |
| 23 | Arkansas Tech University | 18 | 6-2 | 97 |
| 24 | Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) | 25 | 9-2 | 71 |
| 25 | University of California – San Diego | NR | 10-2 | 69 |
Others receiving votes: California University of Pennsylvania (Pa.) 61; University Of Sioux Falls (S.D.) 50; Florida Southern College 32; Clayton State University (Ga.) 25; Colorado State University – Pueblo 25; Bellarmine University (Ky.) 23; Pittsburg State University (Kan.) 21; Francis Marion University (S.C.) 17; Northern State University (S.D.) 14; Queens College (N.Y.) 11; Assumption College (Mass.) 9; Bentley University (Mass.) 9; Gannon University (Pa.) 6; Kentucky State University (Ky.) 3.