Crossroads League in the NAIA National Polls | December 11-17
KANSAS CITY – The NAIA released new Top-25 Polls this week for the sports of women’s and men’s basketball. The Crossroads League placed 10 teams in those polls and currently boasts a total of 28 teams ranked or receiving votes.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (Announced on December 12 – Next Poll on January 9)
No. 5 Marian (12-2, 3-1 CL) moved down one spot in the new poll with 270 points. The Knights have won eight-of-nine games and continue to rate among the NAIA’s elite, ranking top-10 in the NAIA in 10 different statistical categories through the first half of the season.
No. 15 Indiana Wesleyan (10-2, 4-0 CL) jumped up eight positions with 170 points in the new ratings. IWU has rattled off nine-straight wins to grab control of the CL standings and boasts the NAIA’s 10th-ranked perimeter attack with a 36.6-percent rate from three-point range.
No. 20 Saint Francis (7-4, 2-2 CL) dropped three spots to a new total of 104 points. USF has lost three games to teams ranked or receiving votes in its last four outings, despite rating No. 8 in the NAIA in scoring defense at 55.9 points per contest.
RV Taylor (7-5, 3-1 CL) continued to receive votes, hauling in a total of 27 points. The Trojans have won five-of-six games and rank among the NAIA’s top-20 teams in seven different statistical categories.
RV Mount Vernon Nazarene (9-3, 3-1 CL) joined the poll by receiving 4 points. MVNU has climbed the ranks with four-straight victories and sits No. 18 in the NAIA with 16.8 assists per outing.
MEN’S BASKETBALL (Announced on December 12 – Next Poll on January 9)
No. 2 Saint Francis (10-2, 4-0 CL) inched up one position in the latest poll with a new total of 302 points and claimed one first-place vote. USF remains one of the hottest teams in the NAIA with nine-straight victories and is No. 12 overall with a 1.4 assist-to-turnover ratio.
No. 4 Indiana Wesleyan (11-2, 3-1 CL) held steady but drew to within five points of a top-three spot with 278 points. The Wildcats are on a current three-game win streak and their 52.2-percent clip from the field as a team is the second-best percentage in the NAIA.
No. 14 Bethel (3-1, 10-2 CL) climbed another two spots with a new total of 188 points. The Pilots have won three of their last four games and currently sit No. 2 in the NAIA with a 12.9 rebounding advantage per outing.
No. 16 Spring Arbor (13-2, 2-2 CL) jumped five positions with an improved point total of 157 in the new poll. The Cougars have rattled off four-straight wins and rate No. 4 in the NAIA with a scoring defense average of 67.7 points per game.
No. 24 Taylor (9-3, 1-3 CL) fell 12 spots to a new total of 78 points. TU is just 2-3 in its last five but continues to rank among the NAIA’s best scoring teams with 88.5 points per game.
CROSSROADS LEAGUE IN ADDITIONAL TOP-25 POLLS
BASEBALL (Announced on November 7 – Next Poll on March 6)
RV Huntington
WOMEN’S GOLF (Announced on November 3 – Next Poll on March 9)
No. 16 Taylor
No. 25 Bethel
RV Marian
RV Indiana Wesleyan
MEN’S GOLF (Announced on November 3 – Next Poll on March 9)
No. 15 Taylor
RV Indiana Wesleyan
WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY (Final Poll)
No. 5 Taylor
No. 21 Indiana Wesleyan
MEN’S CROSS COUNTRY (Final Poll)
No. 14 Indiana Wesleyan
No. 17 Taylor
WOMEN’S SOCCER (Final Poll)
No. 1 Spring Arbor
No. 11 Marian
RV Indiana Wesleyan
MEN’S SOCCER (Final Poll)
RV Grace
RV Spring Arbor
Volleyball (Final Poll)
No. 22 Indiana Wesleyan
RV Marian