Lady Jackets Tumble in NCAA Poll (2/7/07)

BILLINGS, MT – Following two road losses last weekend, the Montana State-Billings women’s basketball team fell four spots in this week’s NCAA South Central Region poll.  The Yellowjackets, who jumped from No. 10 to No. 5 last week, fell to the No. 9 spot this week. 

The NCAA regional rankings are used to determine the 64 teams that qualify for the NCAA Tournament.  Including the conference champions who earn automatic berths to the NCAA Tourney, the top eight teams in each of the NCAA’s eight Division II regions are invited to the Tournament.

Missouri Western State remained in the South Central Region’s top spot for the third-straight week despite losing their first game of the year last week.  The top four teams in the region remained the same with West Texas A&M and Washburn swapping spots at Nos. 2 and 3.  Traditionally, the region’s top seed at the end of the season earns the right to host the regional rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

The Yellowjackets are on the road again this week for two important Heartland Conference games.  They play at St. Mary’s (TX) on Thursday and at Incarnate Word (TX) on Saturday.  Both games will be aired on AM 970 in Billings and on the web at www.msubillings.edu/athletics.  The Jackets will also play a non-conference game at St. Mary’s next Monday.  MSUB is currently in first place in the Heartland with a 5-2 conference record.  The top four teams in the conference will meet at the conference tournament March 2 and 3 with the winner earning the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

NCAA South Central Region (DII Record/In-Region Record)
1. Missouri Western State (19-1/16-1)
2. West Texas A&M (19-3/14-1)
3. Washburn (17-2/14-2)
4. Emporia State (13-4/11-2)
5. Texas A&M-Commerce (13-5/11-4)
6. Angelo State (12-8/12-6)
7. Southeastern Oklahoma State (14-6/12-6)
8. Northwest Missouri State (10-8/8-6)
9. Montana State-Billings (12-6/10-5)
10. Tarleton State (10-6/9-6)