SEATTLE (Jan. 23) -- Seattle Pacific University remained among the top 20 in this week's NCAA Division II women's basketball poll while the Falcon men are showing signs of rejoining the rankings soon.

Despite a home loss, its first in nearly a year, the SPU women's team dropped just four spots to No. 20 in the USA/WBCA Today coaches poll. Central Washington, which inflicted the defeat, is No. 22 and Western Washington, another Pacific West Conference rival, is No. 21.

In the men's rankings, Seattle Pacific was excluded from the top 25 for the third week in a row but did receive several votes. The Falcons have won 10 of their last 11 games. That sole loss, Jan. 6 at Chaminade, dropped the team out of the ratings.

The men's and women's teams have identical schedules this week. Both play at Western Oregon Thursday night and Humboldt State Saturday. The Humboldt men are No. 25 in this week's national rankings.

USA TODAY/ESPN/WBCA DIVISION II TOP 25 COACHES' POLL 2000-2001
Week 7 - Jan. 17, 2001-Jan.24, 2001

Rank    Institution             Record  Points  Previous Rank

1.      Columbus State          15-0    598     2       
2.      Nebraska-Kearney        16-0    542     6
3.      North Dakota            16-1    540     1
4.      Northern Kentucky       14-1    535     5
5.      Emporia State           14-1    509     3
6.      Bentley                 16-2    468     7
7.      Delta State             16-2    460     4
8.      St. Rose                12-2    415     9
9.      North Dakota State      17-3    409     10
10.     Rollins                 15-2    375     8
11.     Texas A&M Kingsville    17-2    374     11      
12.     Northern Michigan       12-2    314     14
13.     Cal Poly Pomona         13-3    286     15
14.     Kennesaw State          13-3    275     13
15.     Michigan Tech           12-3    236     12
16.     Southern Indiana        13-2    233     18
17.     Millersville            13-2    167     17
18.     Bellarmine (KY)         13-2    166     19
19.     Missouri Western        11-3    166     21
20.     Seattle Pacific         12-3    150     16
21.     Western Washington      12-3    149     22
22.     Central Washington      12-3    111     20
23.     Arkansas Tech           11-4    56      25      
24.     Shippensburg            14-2    46      NR
25.     West Texas A&M          10-4    27      23