SEATTLE (Nov. 28) -- Both of Seattle Pacific University's basketball teams will begin Pacific West Conference this week play with national rankings. The Falcons are No. 18 in the first weekly NCAA Division II men's poll while the SPU women are No. 24.

The men's team, which was 17th in the preseason coaches poll, is 2-1 going into Thursday night's PacWest opener at Western Washington. Seattle Pacific's sole loss was to Cal State San Bernardino, now No. 15.

In the women's rankings, SPU (3-0) returned to the top 25 for the first time in two years. It begins conference play at Seattle University Thursday night. Western Washington, the defending PacWest champion, is No. 15.

Division II Bulletin Men's NCAA Division National Rankings
Team (Record)
1. Florida Southern (2-0)
2. Kentucky Wesleyan (2-0)
3. Southern Indiana (2-0)
4. Northern Kentucky (6-0)
5. Washburn (2-1)
6. Metropolitan State (2-1)
7. Missouri Southern (2-1)
8. Adelphi (2-0)
9. South Dakota (4-0)
10. Wingate (3-0)
11. Tampa (5-0)
12. West Chester (2-0) (Pa.)
13. Salem International (2-1)
14. Pfeiffer (2-0)
15. Cal State-San Bernardino (3-0)
16. American International (2-0)
17. North Alabama (5-0)
18. Seattle Pacific (2-1)
19. Northwest Missouri State (4-0)
20. Cal State-Los Angeles (1-1)
21. Regis (4-0)
22. Gannon (3-1)
23. Henderson State (2-1)
24. Bowie State (3-0)
25. California-Davis (1-0)

Also receiving votes: Augustana (4-0), Minnesota State-Mankato (4-0), Edinboro (2-0), Fort Hays State (3-0), Mesa State (3-0), Massachusetts-Lowell (2-1), St. Michael's (2-0),New Hampshire College (1-1), Johnson C. Smith (4-0), St. Augustine's (4-0), Hillsdale (3-0).

WBCA/USA Today Women's NCAA Division II National Rankings
Rank Institution Points Preseason Rank
1. Northern Kentucky (4-0) 597 1
2. Delta State (4-0) 563 3
3. N.D. State (6-1) 536 2
4. St. Rose (2-0) 522 4
5. North Dakota (4-0) 516 5
6. Emporia State (4-0) 479 6
7. Bentley (4-1) 437 7
8. Columbus State (2-0) 423 8
9. Cal Poly Pomona (2-0) 384 10
10. Michigan Tech (3-0) 362 12
11. Northern Michigan (3-0) 351 13
12. Rollins (3-1) 314 9
13. Kennesaw State (2-0) 300 14
14. Nebraska - Kearney (4-0)286 15
15. Western Wash. (3-1) 263 11
16. Francis Marion (4-1) 181 19
17. West Texas A&M (1-0 ) 170 21
18. Findlay (Ohio) (4-0) 102 NR
19. American Intl. (4-0) 95 NR
20. Arkansas Tech (1-2) 87 17
21. Minnesota-Duluth (1-2) 84 16
22. TX A&M-Kingsville (5-2) 80 23
23. Missouri Western (3-1) 65 25
24. Seattle Pacific (3-0) 61 NR
25. Indiana (Pa.) (3-1) 56 24

Also receiving votes: Florida Southern (53), Shippensburg (49), Presbyterian (46), Slippery Rock (45), Northern Colorado (42), Millersville (39), Pace (28), SIU-Edwardsville (19), Binghamton (18), Wingate (14), Pitt-Johnstown (14), Southwest Baptist (12), Belmont Abbey (11), Central Missouri State (9), St. Cloud State (9), Fort Valley State (9), Bellarmine, Ky. (9), Montana St. - Billings (9), California, Pa. (6), Alaska-Anchorage (4), UC-Davis (4), USC Aiken (2), St. Mary's, Texas (1), Assumption (1), Abilene Christian (1), Chadron State (1), Gannon, Pa. (1).