The St. Thomas Aquinas College women's basketball team was ranked #4 in the latest NCAA Division II East Regional poll released on Wednesday afternoon. The Lady Spartans went 1-1 on the week, moving their record to 23-4 and 15-2 in East Coach Conference competition with a victory over New York Institute of Technology, 80-62, before falling at LIU Post, 77-66 last week.
The NCAA poll is used to determine the participants in the annual Division II Women's Basketball Championship. Eight teams in each of the eight regions comprise the 64-team field competing for the National Championship, with first round games starting the weekend of March 9th. The Lady Spartans are seeking their second berth in program history, with their previous appearance coming in 2003.
In the East Region, the Tournament Champions of the ECC, Northeast-10 (NE-10), and Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) each earn an automatic bid to the NCAAs with the other five bids offered to the remaining top-ranked teams on an "at-large" basis. The current rankings have Stonehill College (NE-10, 23-2 record) in the top slot, University of the Sciences (CACC, 25-2) at No. 2, and Bentley College (NE-10, 23-3) in the No. 3 slot.
On Saturday, the Lady Spartans close out the regular-season by hosting the University of the District of Columbia. They have already clinched a first round bye for the ECC Tournament, and will advance to the semi-finals held at Roberts Wesleyan College on Saturday, March 3 (time TBD). The winners of Saturdays semis advance to the tourney final the following day.
NCAA Women's East Region Rankings
- Stonehill (23-2)
- University of the Sciences (25-2)
- Bentley (23-3)
- St. Thomas Aquinas (23-4)
- Caldwell (22-4)
- LIU Post (20-6)
- Jefferson (21-4)
- Southern Connecticut State (19-8)
- Roberts Wesleyan (18-8)
- Saint Anselm (17-10)