Fort Hays State Women’s Basketball is ranked No. 7 in the latest WBCA Division II Poll, released on Tuesday (Jan. 26). FHSU held the No. 3 ranking in the nation for three consecutive weeks, but slides to No. 7 after a close loss to Missouri Western last week in a battle of top-five teams in the nation. The Tigers and Griffons are both in the top 10 of the latest rankings.
Missouri Western was No. 5 last week and had a chance to move off after knocking off the No. 3 ranked Tigers by two points. However, the Griffons stumbled two days later as they took their first loss of the season to Nebraska-Kearney. With the loss, the Griffons slipped one spot this week to No. 6. FHSU is right behind, tied in the No. 7 slot with West Texas A&M. Both FHSU and WTAMU have held the No. 1 ranking this year. FHSU has been in the top 10 of the national poll throughout the entire season (preseason poll included). Emporia State remained just outside the top 10 at No. 11 and Pittsburg State is receiving votes as the MIAA continues to show its strength on a national level.
Fort Hays State has only one game this week, a road contest at Nebraska-Kearney on Saturday (Jan. 30). It will also be the only game of the week for UNK, following its upset of Missouri Western this past Saturday. FHSU and UNK went to overtime earlier this season in Hays, with FHSU pulling out the win. The Tigers are just one game back of the MIAA lead held by Missouri Western.
Lubbock Christian moved into the nation’s No. 1 ranking this week, still undefeated on the season. Despite Alaska-Anchorage (last week’s No. 1) not losing, LCU moved up one spot by just one voting point overall. Alaska-Anchorage had more first place votes, but not enough overall points to hold on to the No. 1 spot this week.
Below is the WBCA Division II Poll for January 26, 2016.
| Rank |
Institution – First Place Votes |
Previous Rank |
Record |
Total Points |
| 1 |
Lubbock Christian University (Texas) – 7 |
2 |
17-0 |
568 |
| 2 |
University of Alaska – Anchorage – 14 |
1 |
22-1 |
567 |
| 3 |
Ashland University (Ohio) – 1 |
4 |
18-0 |
543 |
| 4 |
California Baptist University |
6 |
18-1 |
497 |
| 5 |
Limestone College (S.C.) – 2 |
7 |
15-0 |
488 |
| 6 |
Missouri Western State |
5 |
18-1 |
467 |
| T7 |
Fort Hays State University (Kan.) |
3 |
17-2 |
442 |
| T7 |
West Texas A&M University |
8 |
18-1 |
442 |
| 9 |
Lewis University (Ill.) |
9 |
18-1 |
424 |
| 10 |
Winona State University (Minn.) |
14 |
19-2 |
328 |
| 11 |
Emporia State University (Kan.) |
12 |
15-3 |
301 |
| 12 |
Nova Southeastern University (Fla.) |
10 |
16-2 |
291 |
| 13 |
Benedict College (S.C.) |
15 |
19-1 |
285 |
| 14 |
Union University (Tenn.) |
16 |
17-2 |
251 |
| 15 |
Anderson University (S.C.) |
11 |
12-2 |
243 |
| 16 |
Quincy University (Ill.) |
18 |
17-1 |
238 |
| 17 |
West Liberty University (W.Va.) |
13 |
16-2 |
216 |
| 18 |
Drury University (Mo.) |
19 |
14-3 |
188 |
| 19 |
Clayton State University (Ga.) |
22 |
16-1 |
185 |
| 20 |
Virginia Union University |
17 |
13-2 |
182 |
| 21 |
Arkansas Tech University |
20 |
13-2 |
169 |
| 22 |
Delta State University (Miss.) |
24 |
14-2 |
122 |
| 23 |
Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) |
25 |
16-3 |
81 |
| 24 |
Florida Southern College |
NR |
16-2 |
59 |
| 25 |
University of California – San Diego |
21 |
15-3 |
47 |
Others receiving votes: Bellarmine University (Ky.) 36; University Of Sioux Falls (S.D.) 26; Columbus State University (Ga.) 21; Bentley University (Mass.) 14; Northern State University (S.D.) 10; Pittsburg State University (Kan.) 10; California State University – Dominguez Hills 9; Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 7; Colorado School of Mines 5; Kentucky State University 5; Texas Woman’s University 5.
