Three PBC Women's Basketball Teams Ranked in Top 25

What could turn out to be a historic season of PBC women's basketball was recognized nationally as three conference teams have been ranked in the top 25 in the Dec. 1 USA Today/ESPN women's basketball poll.  Clayton State rose to #11 in the nation while Francis Marion moved up to 18th and Lander cracked the poll for the first time this year at #25.

This is the first time the PBC has had three nationally-ranked women's basketball teams since four teams were in the poll on Jan. 6, 2003.  In that edition, North Florida was #2, GCSU #16, Armstrong Atlantic State #24 and Augusta State #25.

After holding steady at 13th last week, Clayton State moved up to 11th in this week’s poll. The Lakers earned 387 points and are knocking at the door to move into the Top 10. Clayton State opened the season last Wednesday with an 88-51 victory at home over Albany State, followed by a sweep at the Rollins Thanksgiving Classic by defeating Rollins 75-53 and Nova Southeastern 75-57.

Francis Marion improved to 4-0 on the year and moved from 22nd to 18th in one week.  The Patriots continued to score at will.  After putting 106 on Coker on Nov. 21, Francis Marion beat St. Augustine's 86-56 and demolished Allen 122-47.  That 122 point total is two shy of the PBC record.

Lander, which was ranked No. 27 last week, improved two spots to No. 25 after posting victories over Catawba College (77-68) and Barton College (93-78) last week at the Comfort Suites Classic in Salisbury, N.C.  The Lady Bearcats improved to 4-0 Tuesday night when they defeated Queens University of Charlotte, 94-73.

Michigan Tech is the nation's top-ranked Division II team and is followed by: 2. Franklin Pierce, 3. Fort Lewis, 4. Delta State, 5. Emporia State, 6. Alaska-Anchorage, 7. West Texas A&M, 8. Indianapolis, 9. Gannon, and 10. California University of Pennsylvania.

View the complete poll here.