Lilburn, Ga.----The Wingate University women's basketball team is number 24 in this week's USA Today Sports NCAA Division II top 25 coaches' poll, officials announce Tuesday afternoon. The Bulldogs (15-3 overall) are ranked for the first time this season.
 
Wingate has won six games in a row. On Saturday, five players hit double-figure points as the Bulldogs claimed an 80-66 South Atlantic Conference victory over Mars Hill Saturday afternoon in Cuddy Arena and Thomas Koontz Family Court. Wingate senior forward Kayla Harris (Raleigh, N.C.) led the way with 22 points and 10 rebounds.

Wingate has won 10 of 11 home games this season. On Wednesday, Harris and senior guard Janitsha Williams (Statesville, N.C.) combined for 44 points, 12 rebounds, seven assists and five steals as the Bulldogs earned a hard-fought 68-63 SAC home triumph over Coker. Harris had 23 points, while Williams netted 21 markers.
 
Wingate hits the road Wednesday, traveling to Newberry for a 6 p.m. SAC contest. "Newberry is a big game for us," Wingate head coach Ann Hancock says. "They have such skilled players. Coach (Sean) Page does a great job getting his team…in position to be successful. 
 
"We will certainly be tested and challenged to stop their talented combination of inside/out game with (Haylee) Lepaio and (Tasia) Holdorf," Hancock says. "Newberry is always a tough place to play. We will need our best effort against them tomorrow."
 
WINGATE UNIVERSITY

Wingate University, ranked as the 8th "best value" in the South by U.S. News & World Report, serves more than 3,000 students on three campuses in Wingate, Charlotte and Hendersonville, N.C. Founded in 1896, the University offers 35 undergraduate majors, 37 minors and career concentrations, numerous pre-professional programs, graduate degrees in business, accounting, education, physician assistant studies and sport administration, and doctorates in pharmacy, physical therapy and education.
 
With a 14 to 1 student/teacher ratio, Wingate students gain the tools and support needed to excel in academics and apply that learning toward an extraordinary career and life. To view current news, video and story ideas, visit www.youtube.com/wingateuniversity. 
 
In addition to a robust intramural athletics program, Wingate student athletes compete in 22 NCAA Division II sports. The University has won the South Atlantic Conference Echols Athletic Excellence Award for the past seven years. For more information, go to www.wingate.edu.
 
Wingate is first among NCAA Division II Academic All-America®-producing private colleges in the 2000's with 59 selections. Among North Carolina's colleges and universities, Wingate's 59 Academic All-America® honorees are number one during this millennium. Wingate's 68 lifetime Academic All-America® picks are tops among all SAC schools. For more information on WU athletics, go to www.wingatebulldogs.com.
 
NCAA Division II women's basketball top 25
(first-place votes in parenthesis)
 
1. Bentley (Mass.) (30)
2. Colorado Mesa (2)
3. Gannon (Pa.)
4. Nova Southeastern
5. West Texas A&M
6. Harding (Ark.)
7. Emporia State (Kan.)
8. Wayne State (Neb.)
9. Drury (Mo.)
10. Glenville State (W.Va.)
11. Quincy (Ill.)
12. Delta State (Miss.)
13. Central Missouri
14. Virginia State
15. Rollins (Fla.)
T16. Cal Poly Pomona
T16. Lewis (Ill.)
18. Wayne State (Mich.)
19. Indianapolis (Ind.)
20. North Georgia
21. Tarleton State (Texas)
22. Northern State (S.D.)
23. Minnesota State Mankato
24. Wingate
25. Fort Hays State (Kan.)
 
Teams who dropped out from the previous week's poll: Edinboro (Pa.), Adelphi (N.Y.)
 
Others Receiving Votes: Edinboro (Pa.), Bloomsburg (Pa.), District of Columbia, Lenoir-Rhyne, Montana State-Billings, California State Dominguez Hills, Concordia (Minn.), Northwest Nazarene (Idaho), Seattle Pacific (Wash.), Clayton State, Adelphi (N.Y.), Pittsburg State (Kan.), Indiana (Pa.), Texas A&M International, Western Washington, Michigan Tech, Missouri Southern State, Saint Edwards (Texas), Saint Mary's (Texas), Tampa, Georgia College, Minot State (N.D.),  Stonehill (Mass.), Academy of Art (Calif.), Young Harris (Ga.), Belmont Abbey, Lee (Tenn.), Philadelphia, Saint Leo, Simon Fraser (B.C.), Alaska-Anchorage.