MORAVIAN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL TEAM MOVES UP THREE SPOTS TO 20TH IN LATEST
USA TODAY/ESPN DIVISION III TOP 25 COACHES’ POLL

LILBURN, GA --- The Moravian College women’s basketball team, which has a 7-1 overall record, has moved up three spots to 20th in the nation in the fourth USA Today/ESPN Division III Top 25 Coaches’ Poll of the season announced Tuesday by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association.  The complete poll can be viewed at http://www.wbca.org/DIIICoachesPoll.asp.

The Greyhounds, under the direction of 22-year head coach Mary Beth Spirk, received votes in the second poll of the season before moving into 23rd last week.  The last time Moravian was nationally ranked by the WBCA was during the 2005-06 season when the team reached the NCAA Division III National Tournament. 

Moravian, which is 1-0 in Landmark Conference action, received 65 points in the poll this week, more than doubling last week’s total of 32 points.  The Greyhounds had just two points two weeks ago.

Hope College (MI) is the top team in the poll by receiving three first place votes and 239 points while Illinois Wesleyan University and the University of Rochester are tied for second with 238 points.  Illinois Wesleyan had three first-place votes while Rochester received four first-place votes

Moravian’s only loss of the season is an 80-58 setback at Rochester on November 22nd.  The Greyhounds defeated 14th-ranked DeSales University, 67-63 on November 25th in Johnston Hall, and Moravian defeated 22nd-ranked Muhlenberg College, 98-87, December 15th in Allentown.

Moravian will return to action on Friday, January 2nd when the Greyhounds host Frostburg State University at 8:00 p.m. in Johnston Hall in the first day of the 8th Annual Starters Moravian Winter Classic.

The next USA Today/ESPN Division III Top 25 Coaches’ Poll of the season will be announced on January 6th.