Crossroads League in the NAIA National Polls | January 8-14
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 nine teams in those polls and currently boasts a total of 27 teams ranked or receiving votes.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL (Announced on January 9 – Next Poll on January 23)
No. 5 Marian (17-2, 6-1 CL) has won five-straight games and held steady in the poll, while adding two points for a new total of 272. MU moved back into a tie atop the league standings and rates fifth in the NAIA in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.29) and field goal percentage (47.3).
No. 13 Indiana Wesleyan (14-5, 6-1 CL) has gone 4-3 over its last seven and moved up two spots and 14 points for a new tally of 184. The Wildcats are tied with MU for first place in the CL standings and rate 17th in the NAIA with a 35.8-percent clip from deep.
No. 22 Taylor (12-7, 5-2 CL) is 10-3 since opening at 2-4 and has racked up five wins over nationally-ranked foes during that stretch. TU jumped into the rankings for the first time in five years with a total of 100 points.
RV Saint Francis (11-8, 3-4 CL) suffered a 54-point drop in the new poll, slipping one spot outside of the Top-25 with a new total of 50 points. The Cougars continue to boast a top-rated defense, sitting 18th in the nation while holding teams to 59.5 points per contest.
RV Mount Vernon Nazarene (13-6, 5-2 CL) continued to receive votes, while remaining in a tie for third in the league. MVNU garnered five points in the new poll and currently ranks 15th in the NAIA in total assists.
MEN’S BASKETBALL (Announced on January 9 – Next Poll on January 23)
No. 2 Saint Francis (17-2, 7-0 CL) has rattled off 16-straight victories to hold strong at 302 points in the poll, just 10 points shy of top-rated Cornerstone. USF sits alone in first place in the league standings by two games and rates top-15 in the nation in field goal percentage (50.7) and assist-to-turnover ratio (1.40).
No. 7 Indiana Wesleyan (14-5, 5-2 CL) slid down three spots and dipped 34 points to a new total of 244, after dropping three-of-four games prior to the new ratings being announced. The Wildcats boast one of the most efficient offenses in the nation, rating third with a 52.3-percent clip from the field.
No. 11 Bethel (16-3, 5-2 CL) continued its climb up the rankings by moving up three more spots and 26 points to 214. The Pilots have won six-of-seven contests and currently rank fifth in the nation with 43.7 rebounds per game and second with a plus-11.2 rebounding margin per outing.
No. 13 Spring Arbor (16-3, 4-3 CL) also moved up three positions, picking up 36 points for a new tally of 193. SAU went unbeaten in December and has won seven-of-eight games, while rating fifth in the NAIA with three-point (42.1) and free throw (78.2) percentage.
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