KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The first regular-season Gared NAIA Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll sees a lot of movement as only two teams remained the same rank as the preseason poll.
Bethel (Tenn.) has opened the season with an impressive 4-0 record, averaging 78 points per game while steadily improving on the offensive end. After grinding out a 72-54 win over Williams Baptist (Ark.) despite shooting just 29.0 percent from the field, the Wildcats increased their efficiency in each of their next three contests, culminating in a 92-61 victory over Bryan (Tenn.) in which they shot 54.7 percent from the floor and 39.1 percent from three-point range. Bethel has also shown the ability to score in a variety of ways, knocking down 35 three-pointers through four games while converting 77.9 percent of its free-throw attempts. With wins over Williams Baptist, College of the Ozarks (Mo.), Tennessee Southern and Bryan by an average margin of 20.5 points.
Dordt (Iowa) has raced out to a 5-0 start behind an explosive offense, averaging 92.8 points per game while winning by an average margin of 58.4 points. The Defenders eclipsed the 100-point mark twice, posting a 104-44 victory over Waldorf (Iowa) and a 108-75 win at Grand View (Iowa), while shooting better than 47 percent from the field in three contests. Dordt has also been highly effective from beyond the arc, connecting on 48 three-pointers through five games, including a 15-of-30 performance against Waldorf and an 11-of-23 effort versus Grand View. The Defenders saved their most efficient outing for their latest game, shooting a remarkable 61.2 percent from the floor in a 98-64 road win over Dakota State (S.D.). With a balanced attack and consistent scoring production.
Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) has put together an outstanding start to the season, opening with five consecutive victories while averaging 82.4 points per game and winning by an average of 28.4 points. The Lady Lions have been remarkably efficient offensively, shooting at least 50 percent from the field in four of their five contests, highlighted by a 59.3 percent performance in a 90-69 road win over Life (Ga.). Freed-Hardeman has also been strong at the free-throw line, converting 84 of 100 attempts (84.0 percent), including a 20-of-22 effort against The Master’s (Calif.) and a 23-of-25 showing at Life. The Lady Lions’ balanced offensive production and defensive consistency have fueled wins over Rust (Miss.), The Master’s, Mobile (Ala.), Life, and Bryan (Tenn.).
Saint Francis (Ind.) has been one of the highest-scoring teams in the NAIA through the opening weeks of the season, racing to a 6-0 record while averaging 94.7 points per game and winning by an average margin of 42 points. The Cougars topped the century mark twice, including a 112-66 victory over Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) and a 106-35 win against Michigan-Dearborn, while shooting better than 60 percent from the field in four of their first six contests. Saint Francis has also been efficient from beyond the arc, knocking down 44 three-pointers at a 40.0 percent clip, highlighted by a 10-of-23 performance against Michigan-Dearborn and a 9-of-20 effort at Pikeville (Ky.). With impressive road wins over Midway, Pikeville (Ky.) and Aquinas (Mich.), along with a season-long field-goal percentage of 60.0 percent.
Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) has opened the season with a 3-1 record, averaging 74.8 points per game while showcasing the ability to win in a variety of ways. The Tigers recorded their most impressive result in a 93-39 victory over William Penn (Iowa), shooting 55.6 percent from the field and holding their opponent below 40 points. Dakota Wesleyan followed with wins over Valley City State (N.D.) and Dakota State (S.D.), relying on efficient shooting against Valley City State and strong free-throw production against Dakota State (S.D.), where it converted 25-of-36 attempts from the line. Despite suffering its first loss of the season at Montana Tech, the Tigers have demonstrated a balanced approach on both ends of the floor, averaging 74.8 points while limiting opponents to 59.5 points per game in their three victories. They have won three by double digits and have a field-goal percentage above 46 percent through their first four contests.
| TREND | RANK | LAST TIME | INSTITUTION [FIRST-PLACE VOTES] | RECORD |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ▲ | 1 | 4 | Bethel (Tenn.) [14] | 3-0 |
| ▲ | 2 | 7 | Dordt (Iowa) [3] | 4-0 |
| ▲ | 3 | 5 | Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) | 5-0 |
| ▲ | 4 | 9 | Saint Francis (Ind.) [1] | 5-0 |
| ▼ | 5 | 2 | Dakota Wesleyan (S.D.) | 3-1 |
| ▲ | 6 | 16 | Montana Tech [1] | 5-0 |
| ▼ | 7 | 1 | Marian (Ind.) | 3-1 |
| ▲ | 8 | 11 | Georgetown (Ky.) [1] | 6-0 |
| ▲ | 9 | 10 | Concordia (Neb.) | 3-1 |
| ▲ | 10 | 14 | Indiana Wesleyan | 4-0 |
| ▲ | 11 | 13 | Rio Grande (Ohio) | 4-0 |
| ▼ | T-12 | 8 | Campbellsville (Ky.) | 3-2 |
| ● | T-12 | 12 | Rocky Mountain (Mont.) | 2-0 |
| ▲ | 14 | 24 | Carroll (Mont.) | 4-0 |
| ▲ | 15 | 18 | Hastings (Neb.) | 2-0 |
| ▼ | 16 | 15 | Benedictine (Kan.) | 4-0 |
| ▲ | 17 | 25 | Spring Arbor (Mich.) | 5-0 |
| ▼ | 18 | 17 | MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) | 3-0 |
| ▼ | 19 | 6 | Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) | 4-2 |
| ▼ | 20 | 19 | Loyola (La.) | 2-0 |
| ▼ | 21 | 20 | College of the Ozarks (Mo.) | 2-2 |
| ▲ | 22 | RV | Faulkner (Ala.) | 4-0 |
| ● | 23 | 23 | Oregon Tech | 3-1 |
| ▼ | 24 | 3 | Dakota State (S.D.) | 1-4 |
| ▲ | 25 | NR | Montana State-Northern | 4-0 |
Dropped from Top 25: College of Idaho, Southeastern (Fla.)
Receiving Votes: Bethel (Kan.), Briar Cliff (Iowa), College of Idaho, Corban (Ore.), Evangel (Mo.), Huntington (Ind.), Indiana Tech, Reinhardt (Ga.), Southeastern (Fla.), Texas A&M – San Antonio
About the NAIA
The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), headquartered in Kansas City, Mo., is a governing body of small college athletics programs dedicated to character-driven, education-based athletics. Since 1937, the NAIA has balanced high-level competition with holistic student-athlete development through its commitment to The Right Way to Play®. Each year more than 87,000 NAIA student-athletes compete in college athletics, earn over $1.3 billion in financial aid, and pursue opportunities to participate in 30 national championships. naia.org | @NAIA | #TheRightWayToPlay
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