SEATTLE (Jan. 4) -- Although idle for the past 15 days, the Seattle Pacific University women's basketball team has risen to No. 16 in the latest USA Today/WBCA Division II poll. The Falcons (8-1) take a three-game win streak into Thursday night's Pacific West Conference game at Western New Mexico.

Before the holiday break and two-week recess for the poll SPU had been 19th. It is also the top team in the NCAA West Region.

Other PacWest teams included in this week's rankings are Central Washington at No. 19 and Western Washington at No. 23.

There is no men's basketball poll this week. Seattle Pacific, currently 15th, resumes PacWest play Thursday night at Hawaii Hilo.

USA Today/ESPN Women's Basketball Coaches Association NCAA Division II Womens National Poll
Rank Institution (First) Record Points
1. Northern Kentucky 9-0 599
2. Delta (Miss.) State 11-0 575
3. North Dakota 13-0 544
4. Emporia (Kan.) State 8-0 523
5. Columbus (Ga.) State 9-0 501
6. North Dakota State 13-1 444
7. Nebraska-Kearney 11-2 439
8. St. Rose (N.Y.) 9-1 422
9. Bentley (Mass.) 10-2 403
10. Rollins (Fla.) 10-1 378
11. Northern Michigan 5-1 364
12. Kennesaw (Ga.) State 10-1 322
13. Texas A&M-Kingsville 11-2 276
14. Michigan Tech 8-2 253
15. West Texas A&M 7-1 215
16. Seattle Pacific (Wash.) 8-1 209
17. California Poly Pomona 5-2 206
18. Missouri Western 6-1 177
19. Central Washington 8-1 135
20. Millersville (Pa.) 8-1 117
21. Southern Indiana 9-0 97
22. Francis Marion (S.C.) 7-3 87
23. Western Washington 6-3 85
24. Findlay (Ohio) 9-3 70
25. Barry (Fla.) 10-1 50