Courtesy of James Garcia, Sports Information Director
INSTITUTE, W.Va. – After knocking off two nationally-ranked opponents last week, including No. 2 Glenville State, the West Virginia State women’s basketball team is ranked in both major national Division II polls for the first time in school history. The Yellow Jackets are currently ranked at No. 18 in the D2SIDA National Media Poll and No. 23 in the WBCA National Coaches Poll.
Since becoming a member of NCAA Division II in 1997, West Virginia State came closest to breaking into the Top 25 during the 2003-04 season. The Yellow Jackets set the program record for wins that season by finishing 22-9 and received votes in the USA Today National Poll once. With 15 wins already and 10 games to go in the regular season, WVSU is well on its way to breaking the program record for wins this season.
State climbed to No. 2 in the D2SIDA Atlantic Region rankings this week in addition to breaking into the Top 25 for the first time. The Yellow Jackets are now the highest ranked MEC team in all major polls except the WBCA National Coaches Poll where Glenville only dropped to fifth. State demanded national attention last week by extending its win streak to nine games after beating No. 2 Glenville, 75-74, and No. 20 Charleston, 88-65.
With the pair of wins this past week, WVSU is now in a two-way tie with the Pioneers for first place in the Mountain East Conference standings. The women’s basketball program at State has never captured a conference championship before, in the regular season or in the postseason tournament, and are best-situated to win one since the Yellow Jackets moved into second place late last season.
West Virginia State travels to Fairmont State (13-6, 8-4 MEC) for a tough road test tonight. The current win streak would be extended to an incredible 10 games with another victory.
