Courtesy of Dusty Sloan, Ashland University Sports Information Director
ASHLAND, Ohio -- As the wins continue to pile up, Ashland University's women's basketball team keeps getting closer to the top of the Division II mountain – in the weekly coaches' poll, anyway.
In the most recent USA TODAY Sports Top 25 coaches' poll, released on Tuesday (Jan. 19), the Eagles are ranked No. 4 in the country. It is the first time AU has been in the Top 5 since finishing 2012-13 in the top spot after winning the NCAA Division II national championship, and it is the 23rd time in the regular season Ashland has been in the Top 5.
The Eagles also received one of 24 first-place votes in this week's poll.
Ashland is 16-0 overall and 10-0 in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, leading the overall conference standings by two games and the South Division by three. The Eagles start the week as one of four undefeated Division II women's basketball teams.
This is the 27th time, not counting preseason, Ashland has been ranked in the Top 10. Not counting preseason, this is the 41st week AU has been ranked in the Top 25 – 38 of those coming since the start of the 2011-12 season. Ashland also has been in the Top 25 in three of the last four preseason polls, including as the top-ranked team in Division II to begin 2012-13.
Ashland is the only GLIAC team in this week's Top 25 poll.
This week, AU will travel to Findlay (11-5, 6-4) on Thursday, Jan. 21 at 5:30 p.m., then go to Wayne State (7-9, 2-8) on Saturday, Jan. 23 at 1 p.m.
| USA TODAY SPORTS Women's Basketball Coaches' Poll - Jan. 19, 2016 | ||||
| Rank | Institution - First | Last | Record | Points |
| 1 | University of Alaska - Anchorage - 11 | 2 | 20-1 | 560 |
| 2 | Lubbock Christian University (Texas) - 9 | 4 | 15-0 | 550 |
| 3 | Fort Hays State University (Kan.) | 3 | 16-1 | 522 |
| 4 | Ashland University (Ohio) - 1 | 6 | 16-0 | 505 |
| 5 | Missouri Western State - 2 | 10 | 17-0 | 483 |
| 6 | California Baptist University | 5 | 15-1 | 477 |
| 7 | Limestone College (S.C.) - 1 | 7 | 14-0 | 469 |
| 8 | West Texas A&M University | 1 | 16-1 | 434 |
| 9 | Lewis University (Ill.) | 8 | 16-1 | 415 |
| 10 | Nova Southeastern University (Fla.) | 11 | 15-1 | 396 |
| 11 | Anderson University (S.C.) | 14 | 12-1 | 307 |
| 12 | Emporia State University (Kan.) | 9 | 14-3 | 302 |
| 13 | West Liberty University (W.Va.) | 15 | 15-1 | 259 |
| 14 | Winona State University (Minn.) | 12 | 17-2 | 248 |
| 15 | Benedict College (S.C.) | 17 | 17-1 | 240 |
| 16 | Union University (Tenn.) | 18 | 15-2 | 217 |
| 17 | Virginia Union University | 21 | 12-1 | 197 |
| 18 | Quincy University (Ill.) | 19 | 15-1 | 194 |
| 19 | Drury University (Mo.) | 16 | 12-3 | 191 |
| 20 | Arkansas Tech University | 22 | 11-2 | 143 |
| 21 | University of California - San Diego | 23 | 14-2 | 118 |
| 22 | Clayton State University (Ga.) | NR | 15-1 | 107 |
| 23 | Columbus State University (Ga.) | 13 | 12-3 | 105 |
| 24 | Delta State University (Miss.) | 25 | 12-2 | 79 |
| 25 | Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) | 24 | 13-3 | 55 |
Dropped Out: American International College (Mass.).
Others receiving votes: Bellarmine University (Ky.) 46; Florida Southern College 37; American International College (Mass.) 35; University of Sioux Falls (S.D.) 21; Northern State University (S.D.) 14; Kentucky State University 8; Colorado School of Mines 7; Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania 7.
12 teams mentioned on only one ballot for a total of 45 combined points.
