LADY PACERS CLIMB THREE SPOTS IN TOP 25 POLL
USC AIKEN TO CLOSE OUT 2007 PORTION OF SCHEDULE ON SATURDAY

AIKEN, S.C.-- Behind the strength of a 12-point win over a Division I opponent and a 98-63 blowout of Converse College, the USC Aiken Lady Pacers (6-1) moved up three spots to 21st in the third in-season edition of the USA Today/ESPN/WBCA Top 25 Coaches Poll, released Tuesday afternoon.  (PHOTO BY: Scott Webster)

After a nearly five-year absence from the national rankings (December 12, 2002), USC Aiken found their way into the Top 25 in week one of the season and have now appeared in three-straight polls. 

North Dakota retained the top spot in the land for the second-straight week with an 8-0 record.  Delta State, following a 73-60 win over #11 Clayton State, stayed in the number two position while both UC San Diego and Alaska Anchorage inched up one notch each following Washburn’s five-spot tumble to eighth.  Indiana (Pa.) rounds out the top five. 

USC Aiken garnered 126 points this week.  The Lady Pacers pulled away to a 70-58 win over Winston-Salem State last Monday, a Division I member of the MEAC.  On Friday, USCA placed five players in double figures led by junior Meredith Legg’s career-high 23 as the Lady Pacers rolled to the 98-63 win over Converse, the program’s most points since November 17, 2000. 

The Lady Pacers will travel to Montevallo, Ala. on Saturday, December 15 to square off against Montevallo University at 1:00 PM.  It is the team’s final competition before the holiday break.  The last time a USCA team opened 7-1 was 2001-02.  That squad began the year 12-1 and went on to a 22-6 record, winning the Peach Belt Conference Regular Season Championship.

USA TODAY/ESPN/WBCA Division II
Women’s Basketball Top 25 Coaches Poll
December 11, 2007--Poll #3
1. North Dakota (23)
2. Delta State (3)
3. UC San Diego 
4. Alaska Anchorage
5. Indiana (Pa.)
6. Drury
7. Valdosta State
8. Washburn
9. Concordia (Minn.)
10. Southern Connecticut State
11. Clayton State
12. CSU-Chico
13. Northern Kentucky
14. Emporia State
15. Stonehill
16. Holy Family
17. Texas A&M-Commerce
18. Seattle Pacific
19. West Texas A&M
20. Florida Tech
21. USC Aiken
22. South Dakota
23. Shaw
24. Missouri Southern State
25. Minnesota State-Mankato