MORAVIAN WOMEN’S BASKETBALL DROPS SIX SPOTS TO 22ND IN
LATEST USA TODAY/ESPN DIVISION III TOP 25 COACHES’ POLL

LILBURN, GA --- The Moravian College women’s basketball team, which has a 17-3 overall record, dropped six spots to 22nd in the nation in the ninth 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 in the third poll and then up to 20th on December 16th.  Moravian was 18th in the first poll in January and up to 14th on January 13th before falling to 18th two weeks ago.  The Greyhounds had moved back up to 16th last week. 

Moravian, which is 7-2 in Landmark Conference action, received 38 points in the poll this week, down 60 points from the previous poll.

Illinois Wesleyan University remained in the top spot with all ten first-place votes and 250 points while Hope College is second with 235 points.

Moravian’s first loss of the season was an 80-58 setback at fourth ranked The University of Rochester on November 22nd.  The Greyhounds defeated 18th-ranked DeSales University, 67-63 on November 25th in Johnston Hall, and Moravian defeated 21st-ranked Muhlenberg College, 98-87, December 15th in Allentown.  Moravian also has a 57-45 triumph over The University of Scranton, which 23rd in this week’s poll.

Moravian will return to action on Saturday, February 7th when the Greyhounds travel to the United States Merchant Marine Academy in a Landmark Conference game in King’s Point, New York tipping off at 5:30 p.m.