[Basketball] Mustang women up one spot, men receiving votes

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The Mount Mercy women's basketball team continued its climb in the national rankings while the Mustang men made a return appearance in this week's poll, which were released on Monday by the NAIA.

The women's squad, which improved to 15-4 overall and a perfect 7-0 in league play with Midwest Collegiate Conference road wins at St. Ambrose and AIB, moved up one spot to No. 8 in this week's NAIA Division II Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll. The Mustangs own a 10-game winning streak and open a three-game homestand against Iowa Wesleyan on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at Hennessey Recreation Center.

Indiana Wesleyan (19-1) was a unanimous No. 1 again this week, followed by Briar Cliff (17-3), Davenport (Mich.) (18-2), College of the Ozarks (Mo.) (15-3), Concordia (Neb.) (16-2), Concordia (Mich.) (16-3), Northwestern (15-4), Mount Mercy, Morningside (14-6) and Eastern Oregon (15-4). Grand View (14-5), which visits Cedar Rapids next week, moved up three spots to No. 12 this week.

The Mustang men (13-5, 4-3 MCC), which snapped a three-game losing skid with conference road victories at then-25th-ranked St. Ambrose and AIB, received votes in this week's NAIA Division II Men's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll. Mount Mercy, ranked as high as 14th earlier this season, sits at No. 37 now with six votes. The Mustangs host Iowa Wesleyan on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. in the first of three straight home games at Hennessey Recreation Center.

Northwood (Fla.) (16-1) maintained its grip on the top spot for the third consecutive week. Oregon Tech (19-2) is next, followed by Davenport (18-2), Grace (Ind.) (17-2) and Dordt (18-2). League rival Ashford is 24th with 83 points and Grand View is 28th with 40 points.