KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Campbellsville University women's basketball team remained among the nation's top programs Wednesday, landing at No. 12 in the first regular-season Gared NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll.
The Lady Tigers moved four positions from their No. 8 preseason ranking following a 3-2 start that featured victories over Cornerstone, Williams Baptist, and Indiana Tech, which was receiving votes nationally. Campbellsville's early schedule also included a five-point loss to then-No. 20 College of the Ozarks.
Campbellsville opened the season by scoring 101 points against Cornerstone before overcoming a 23-point second-half deficit to defeat host Indiana Tech 84-80 in overtime at the Warrior Classic. The Lady Tigers later closed the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce Women's Basketball Classic with a 96-63 victory over Williams Baptist.
Only two teams retained their preseason positions amid considerable movement throughout the first regular-season poll. Montana Tech and Carroll made the largest climbs, each advancing by double digits.
Campbellsville is one of several Mid-South Conference programs receiving national recognition. The league placed five teams in the preseason Top 25, led by Bethel, Freed-Hardeman, and Lindsey Wilson, with Georgetown and Campbellsville also ranked.
The national poll is selected by a panel of head coaches representing each conference and the Continental Athletic Conference. Rankings are determined through a points system, with each team's highest and lowest placements removed before the final totals are calculated.
The No. 12 ranking continues Campbellsville's longstanding presence on the national stage after the Lady Tigers reached the NAIA National Championship Quarterfinals and recorded the program's nation-leading 34th national tournament appearance last season.
| TREND |
RANK |
LAST TIME |
INSTITUTION [FIRST-PLACE VOTES] |
RECORD |
| ▲ |
1 |
4 |
Bethel (Tenn.) [14] |
3-0 |
| ▲ |
2 |
7 |
Dordt (Iowa) [3] |
4-0 |
| ▲ |
3 |
5 |
Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) |
5-0 |
| ▲ |
4 |
9 |
Saint Francis (Ind.) [1] |
5-0 |
| ▼ |
5 |
2 |
Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) |
3-1 |
| ▲ |
6 |
16 |
Montana Tech [1] |
5-0 |
| ▼ |
7 |
1 |
Marian (Ind.) |
3-1 |
| ▲ |
8 |
11 |
Georgetown (Ky.) [1] |
6-0 |
| ▲ |
9 |
10 |
Concordia (Neb.) |
3-1 |
| ▲ |
10 |
14 |
Indiana Wesleyan |
4-0 |
| ▲ |
11 |
13 |
Rio Grande (Ohio) |
4-0 |
| ▼ |
T-12 |
8 |
Campbellsville (Ky.) |
3-2 |
| ● |
T-12 |
12 |
Rocky Mountain (Mont.) |
2-0 |
| ▲ |
14 |
24 |
Carroll (Mont.) |
4-0 |
| ▲ |
15 |
18 |
Hastings (Neb.) |
2-0 |
| ▼ |
16 |
15 |
Benedictine (Kan.) |
4-0 |
| ▲ |
17 |
25 |
Spring Arbor (Mich.) |
5-0 |
| ▼ |
18 |
17 |
MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) |
3-0 |
| ▼ |
19 |
6 |
Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) |
4-2 |
| ▼ |
20 |
19 |
Loyola (La.) |
2-0 |
| ▼ |
21 |
20 |
College of the Ozarks (Mo.) |
2-2 |
| ▲ |
22 |
RV |
Faulkner (Ala.) |
4-0 |
| ● |
23 |
23 |
Oregon Tech |
3-1 |
| ▼ |
24 |
3 |
Dakota State (S.D.) |
1-4 |
| ▲ |
25 |
NR |
Montana State-Northern |
4-0 |
Dropped from Top 25: College of Idaho, Southeastern (Fla.)
Receiving Votes: Bethel (Kan.), Briar Cliff (Iowa), College of Idaho, Corban (Ore.), Evangel (Mo.), Huntington (Ind.), Indiana Tech, Reinhardt (Ga.), Southeastern (Fla.), Texas A&M – San Antonio
