The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) officially announced the Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Top-25 Poll, and rising two spots is Bryan women’s basketball coming in at No. 14. The Lions and the Eagles of Reinhardt University (Ga.) are the only two teams representing the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) in the top-25. Reinhardt held onto their No. 22 ranking with a 23-2 overall record.
Bryan is the only NAIA Div. II team in the country with just one loss. No. 1 Southeastern (Fla.), No. 2 Concordia (Neb.), No. 4 Hastings (Neb.), and No. 22 Reinhardt follow as the only teams with just two losses. Since Poll No. 4 was released on Feb. 5, the Lions have clawed their way to four more wins, improving to 26-1 overall and 22-0 in conference play. During that time, Bryan has also secured their third straight AAC Regular-Season Championship, punching their ticket to Sioux City, Iowa in March where they will compete in the NAIA Div. II Women’s Basketball National Tournament. The Lions are currently focused on completing back-to-back undefeated seasons in conference play with only two more games remaining. With a victory on Wednesday, Feb. 19 versus Milligan College (Tenn.), Bryan will win the regular-season title outright (without using the tiebreaker, which Bryan defeated Reinhardt on Jan. 2). Following the bout against Milligan, the Lions wrap up regular-season play this Saturday, Feb. 22 at 2pm in a clash with Columbia College (S.C.).
Bryan leads in numerous statistical categories in both the NAIA and AAC. To view the Lions’ stats this season, click here.