Although it went 5-1 in the near month between polls, the Lewis-Clark State College women’s basketball team slipped out of a tie for third and into the No. 4 spot in the NAIA Women’s Division I Basketball Coaches’ Top 25 poll, which was released on Monday.
The Warriors, 16-1 overall, drew 285 points in the poll to stand at No. 4 overall. Campbellsville University of Kentucky, which was tied for third with LCSC when the last poll came out on Dec. 15, is now at No. 3 alone with 289 points.
For the 40th straight week, Union of Tennessee holds down the top spot. The Bulldogs received all 12 first-place votes and stand at 15-0 with 312 points. Oklahoma City is second at 13-0 and 302 points.
LCSC’s No. 3 ranking from the previous poll was its highest since the start of the 2007 season when it was also ranked No. 3 in the preseason poll.
The Warriors lost their first game after the December ranking, but came back to defeat No. 8 Azusa Pacific and No. 23 The Master’s during a December trip to California. Despite the loss, Azusa Pacific remained at No. 8 in Monday’s poll, while The Master’s moved to No. 23 after previously receiving votes in the poll.
LCSC last week defeated Montana Tech, which received votes in the poll.
Two other Frontier Conference teams were ranked in the poll. Westminster, which lost to Montana Tech, fell to No. 15, while Carroll moved up two spots to No. 22 . Both Westminster and Carroll are 14-4 overall.
LCSC will get a good look at the Saints this week as it hits the road for the first time in conference play. The Warriors will be in Billings Thursday to face Rocky Mountain and then travel to Helena on Saturday to meet Carroll. Both games are at 6 p.m.
