Arkansas Tech University is ranked fifth in the initial NCAA Division II Central Region poll of the 2015-16 women’s basketball season.
The Golden Suns (19-3 overall, 17-1 Great American Conference) are the only GAC team among the 10 squads ranked in the poll.
Missouri Western State University (23-2) is No. 1 in the rankings, which were released on Wednesday, Feb. 17. The Golden Griffons have won five consecutive games.
They are joined in the top three by their fellow Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association members Pittsburg State University (2nd, 21-4) and Fort Hays State University (3rd, 21-3).
After Winona State University (4th, 25-2) and Arkansas Tech, the remainder of the poll includes Emporia State University (6th, 19-5), Minnesota State University-Moorhead (7th, 18-5), the University of Sioux Falls (8th, 21-5), Northern State University (9th, 19-6) and Augustana University (10th, 20-6).
The poll is used to make selections for the NCAA Division II Tournament. Postseason conference tournament champions from the GAC, MIAA and Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference will receive automatic bids to the NCAA Division II Tournament Central Regional. The five at-large berths into that event are determined by the region rankings.
Arkansas Tech has made 12 NCAA Division II Tournament appearances in women’s basketball since 1998.
The Golden Suns advanced to the NCAA Elite Eight in 1998, 1999, 2010 and 2011, finishing as national runner-up in 1999.
In other poll news, the Suns moved up to No. 14 in this week’s USA Today Sports NCAA Division II top 25 national poll. It is the highest national ranking of the season for Tech’s women.
Arkansas Tech has four regular season games remaining in its 2015-16 regular season.
The Golden Suns will host Henderson State University at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 18, Southeastern Oklahoma State University at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 25, and East Central University at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 27.
The lone remaining regular season road game for Tech’s women is set for 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 20, at the University of Arkansas-Monticello.
The Golden Suns will compete in the GAC Tournament March 3-6 in Bartlesville, Okla.
Live coverage of all Arkansas Tech basketball games is provided by KCJC 102.3 FM and www.arkansastechsports.com.
