The Falcons Online -- Seattle Pacific University Athletics

Nation's Top Two Teams to Collide in Women's Elite Eight Opener
March 17, 2004

SEATTLE (Mar. 18) If the polls are correct, then the nation's top two women's basketball teams will collide well before the championship game.

Undefeated and top-ranked Seattle Pacific University (30-0) faces No. 2 Drury (Mo.) in the quarterfinal round of the NCAA Division II Elite Eight next Wednesday (Mar. 24) in St. Joseph, Mo. The two teams are at the top of this week's coaches poll conducted by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association.

The Falcons picked up two more first-place votes after winning the West Regional earlier this week. They now have 20 while Drury (34-1), winner of the South Central, has two.

The rest of the Elite Eight field is included in this week's top 25. California (Pa.) remains No. 3, Merrimack (Ma.) is No. 5, South Dakota State, the defending national champion is No. 7 and Quincy (Il.) is No. 8. Newcomers to the rankings are Augusta State (Ga.), a No. 8 seed in its regional, No. 19 and Henderson State (Ar.) is No. 23,

Below is the USA TODAY/ESPN/WBCA Top 25 women's basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, total points based on 25 points for first place through one point for 25th.

USA TODAY/ESPN/WBCA DIVISION II TOP 25 COACHES' POLL

		Record	Total Points	Previous Rank
1.	Seattle Pacific University (20)	30-0	548	1
2.	Drury University (2)	34-1	528	2
3.	California University Of PA	32-1	501	3
4.	Glenville State College	29-4	440	5
5.	Merrimack College	30-3	438	9
6.	University Of North Dakota	27-6	417	6
7.	South Dakota State University	26-6	408	10
8.	Quincy University	29-4	375	12
9.	Rollins College	29-4	351	11
10.	Shaw University	28-3	325	4
11.	Concordia University - Saint Paul	28-4	308	7
12.	Emporia State University	24-5	305	8
13.	North Dakota State University	24-7	268	14
14.	Lake Superior State University	28-4	267	15
15.	Washburn University	26-5	250	13
16.	Georgia College & State University	28-6	212	19
17.	University Of South Dakota	25-8	144	16
18.	Northwest Missouri St. University	24-7	137	17
19.	Augusta State University	24-7	129	NR
20.	West Texas A&M University	25-6	124	23
21.	Angelo State University	26-5	116	18
22.	California State University - Bakersfield	23-6	97	22
23.	Henderson State University	23-12	82	NR
24.	University Of North Florida	24-6	68	20
25.	Fort Valley State University	24-8	55	24

Dropped out: No. 21 Holy Family University and No. 25 Bentley College

Others Receiving Votes: Holy Family University 54; Bryant College 39; Northeastern State University 35; California State Poly University - Pomona 25; American International College 24; Bentley College 14; Anderson College 13; Stonehill College 11; University Of Indianapolis 8; Armstrong Atlantic State University 7; Lander University 6; West Liberty State College 6; University Of West Alabama 5; Missouri Western State 4; University Of Pittsburgh - Johnstown 3; Barton College 2; Assumption College 1

*Three votes were not received from the following conferences: Central Intercollegiate Athletic (1), Northern Sun (1) and Peach Belt (1).