FHSU Sports Information Department
Fort Hays State women’s basketball climbed two more spots in the latest edition of the WBCA Division II Poll, released on Tuesday (Dec. 1). The Tigers moved up to No. 5 this week after improving to 6-0 overall with wins over Newman and Sterling last week.
Fort Hays State has now enjoyed a stay in the WBCA Top 10 for 11 consecutive polls dating back to January 27 last year. FHSU was No. 8 in the final poll last year and No. 10 in the preseason poll this year but has steadily climbed to the top five once again.
The Tigers face a big challenge this week to open MIAA play as they host Washburn tonight and Emporia State (Saturday). Washburn at 4-2 overall defeated the No. 3 team in the nation last week to allow the Tigers to move up in the poll. Emporia State is the No. 1 ranked team in the nation and also enters the week at 6-0 overall. Missouri Western is the only other team from the MIAA in the top 25 at No. 18 this week.
Saturday will mark the fifth consecutive meeting between FHSU and ESU in which both teams are ranked in the top 10 of the WBCA poll. Both teams were in the top 10 for all four meetings last year (two regular season and two postseason). Saturday marks the only time the schools will meet in the regular season this year. The Tigers and Hornets split their four meetings last year.
Below is the WBCA Top 25 Poll for December 1, 2015.
| Rank | Institution – First Place Votes | Previous Rank | Record | Points |
| 1 | Emporia State University (Kan.) – 20 | 1 | 6-0 | 594 |
| 2 | California Baptist University – 2 | 4 | 6-0 | 559 |
| 3 | University of Alaska – Anchorage – 1 | 5 | 11-0 | 527 |
| 4 | West Texas A&M University | 6 | 5-0 | 499 |
| 5 | Fort Hays State University (Kan.) | 7 | 6-0 | 485 |
| 6 | Drury University (Mo.) | 8 | 5-0 | 443 |
| 7 | Lewis University (Ill.) | 2 | 6-1 | 432 |
| 8 | Nova Southeastern University (Fla.) | 3 | 6-1 | 407 |
| 9 | Limestone College (S.C.) | 9 | 5-0 | 395 |
| 10 | Winona State University (Minn.) | 11 | 8-0 | 389 |
| 11 | Union University (Tenn.) – 1 | 10 | 6-0 | 380 |
| 12 | California University (Pa.) | 12 | 4-1 | 300 |
| 13 | Ashland University (Ohio) | 13 | 4-0 | 299 |
| 14 | Lubbock Christian University (Texas) | 18 | 6-0 | 258 |
| 15 | Queens College (N.Y.) | 17 | 3-0 | 226 |
| 16 | Columbus State University (Ga.) | 14 | 3-1 | 213 |
| 17 | Anderson University (S.C.) | 19 | 2-0 | 167 |
| 18 | Missouri Western State | 22 | 5-0 | 154 |
| 19 | West Liberty University (W.Va.) | 21 | 5-1 | 122 |
| 20 | Arkansas Tech University | 15 | 4-1 | 120 |
| 21 | Carson-Newman University (Tenn.) | 20 | 4-1 | 91 |
| 22 | Bentley University (Mass.) | 24 | 6-1 | 66 |
| 23 | Colorado Mesa University | 25 | 3-1 | 64 |
| 24 | Virginia Union University | NR | 5-0 | 59 |
| 25 | Benedict College (S.C.) | NR | 3-0 | 52 |
Others Receiving Votes: University Of Sioux Falls (S.D.) 49; Assumption College (Mass.) 43; Quincy University (Ill.) 43; Michigan Technological University 37; Wayne State College (Neb.) 32; Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) 28; Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania 28; Shaw University (N.C.) 24; Wayne State University (Mich.) 23; University of California – San Diego 20; Colorado Christian University 19; Delta State University (Miss.) 18; Grand Valley State University (Mich.) 16; Minnesota State University – Moorhead 14; University of Arkansas – Fort Smith 11; Florida Southern College 9; Johnson C Smith University (N.C.) 9; Kentucky State University 6.