SAC Places Four In Latest NCAA Rankings

INDIANAPOLIS - As the regular season came to a close in women's basketball, the SAC is well-represented in the latest Division II Women's Basketball Southeast Region poll, released on Wednesday, as four teams remain within the top 10.

Posting the highest ranking for a second straight week, Wingate moved up one position to the No. 3 slot. The Bulldogs clinched the regular season title last week after defeating Anderson and Brevard, and finished the year with a 19-7 record and a 13-5 conference mark.

Two spots behind Wingate at No. 5 is Tusculum who claimed the No. 3 seed in the conference tournament, tallying a 17-9 overall record and finishing 11-7 within the SAC. The Pioneers were in the same slot in the previous poll after splitting their final two regular season games last week.

Dropping one spot to the 7th position for the week is Lenoir-Rhyne, who closed out the season last week on a two-game losing streak. L-R fell to 19-8 on the season and 11-7 within the conference. The Bears will be the No. 4 seed in the SAC tournament.

Catawba College stumbled to the No. 9 in the ranking and rounds out the SAC teams in this week's poll. The Lady Indians lost to Newberry in their season finale, clinching the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament. Catawba College ended the season with a 17-9 record, matching Tusculum's mark, and 12-6 in league play.

The regional rankings are the official poll recognized during the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship selection process. The championship field will be announced on March 4.