MCC News
Mon, Feb 22, 2010 - [Women's Basketball]

In the final NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 poll released by the national office on Monday, the Mid-Central College Conference once again boasts four teams with Taylor making a last-minute appearance.

Released one day before the start of the 2010 MCC Women's Basketball Tournament, the final rankings will be used to fill the at-large bids for the NAIA National Tournament on March 10-16 in Sioux City, Iowa. Championship qualifiers will be announced on March 2 with the bracket revealed on March 3 at 4:30 EST and can be viewed live on College Fanz Sports Network.

 
For the 10th consecutive week, Indiana Wesleyan was rated the highest team in the MCC, a position well-earned after capturing the regular season conference championship outright on Saturday with an overtime win over Taylor. The Wildcats raised one spot for the second week in a row to finish at No. 7. With the top seed in the tournament and the right to home court advantage throughout the event, IWU will host eighth-seeded Spring Arbor on Tuesday.
   
Saint Francis held steady at No. 12 finishing second in the league. The Cougars appeared in all but one of the top 25 polls this season and will host Grace in the first round on Tuesday.
   
Huntington fell back one spot to familiar territory at No. 18. The Foresters spent two weeks in the 18th slot before peaking at No. 17 last week. As the third seed in the tournament Huntington will play host to Bethel on Tuesday.
   
The Pilots made a brief appearance at No. 24 last week but fell back into the pool of candidates receiving votes after their loss to Taylor. Bethel began the season at No. 8, but fell out of the top 25 by the sixth poll of the year where it spent three weeks until last week's reemergence.
   
With the 81-70 home win Taylor swapped with Bethel to take the fourth seed in the conference tournament and the No. 25 NAIA ranking, their first appearance since the fourth rating of the season on Jan. 11. The Trojans peaked at No. 10 early in the season but have spent the last five polls in the receiving votes section, garnering as few as five votes just two weeks ago.
   
The Trojans are the lone newcomer to the top 25 and will play host to Marian on Tuesday. The two teams split in the regular season with both squads winning on their home courts.
   
Marian also received votes in the poll.
   
Complete tournament information can be found on the Championship Central page of this website.