Major Shake Up in NCAA Region Rankings; FHSU Women Move Up to No. 2

FHSU Sports Information Department

INDIANAPOLIS – The NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Central Region Rankings saw a major shake up on Wednesday (Feb. 24) among the top four teams, even though none of the four lost the previous week. Fort Hays State moved up to No. 2 this week from No. 3 last week, but the major shake up was at No. 1.
Even though Missouri Western won its only game played last week, the Griffons plummeted from the No. 1 ranking in the region to No. 4 this week. Taking over the No. 1 ranking this week is Pittsburg State, which sat at No. 2 in the first set of region rankings. The Gorillas went on the road for a pair of wins last week. Winona State, the No. 3 team this week, also picked up a pair of road wins in their final two regular season contests. Winona State starts NSIC Tournament play on Wednesday night.

What the shake up shows is just how close together all four teams are in the race for the No. 1 seed in the region and the right to host the Central Regional of the NCAA Tournament. With the No. 1 through No. 4 teams winning all of their contests last week, Missouri Western dropping to No. 4 indicates that all four teams are tightly bunched in the ranking criteria. Several factors weigh into the rankings, but four-loss Pittsburg State is ahead of three-loss FHSU, and a pair of two-loss teams – Missouri Western and Winona State.

Emporia State moved up to No. 5 in the rankings this week after Arkansas Tech took a loss last week. Arkansas Tech checks in at No. 6. Four NSIC teams round out the rankings from No. 7 to No. 10.

Below are the NCAA Central Region Rankings for February 24, 2016.