INDIANAPOLIS -- For the fifth straight week, the Tusculum College Women's basketball team is seventh in the NCAA Division II Southeast Region rankings, released Wednesday afternoon.

The Pioneers, the defending NCAA II Southeast Region Champions, are 18-8 overall and 16-8 against regional opponents and are one of three South Atlantic Conference teams in the rankings. Wingate is eighth with a 17-9 overall and in-region record. Mars Hill, 18-8 against DII opponents and 16-8 against in-region opponents, is ninth.

The tournament champions of the SAC, the Peach Belt Conference and Conference Carolinas will earn automatic bids to the NCAA Southeast Regional tournament, along with five at-large selections. The Peach Belt has the top five teams included in this week's rankings: Clayton State (1st), Lander (2nd), USC Aiken (3rd), Georgia College (4th) and Francis Marion (5th). Conference Carolinas' representatives in the rankings are Barton in sixth place and newcomer Limestone in tenth place.

The tournament field will be announced on Sunday.

- NCAA -

NCAA II Women's Basketball Southeast Region Ranking
through February 27, 2011
Rk. School In-Region Overall
1. Clayton State 27-0 27-0
2. Lander 24-2 25-2
3. South Carolina Aiken 21-3 22-4
4. Georgia College 18-6 18-6
5. Francis Marion 16-8 16-8
6. Barton 22-4 22-4
7. TUSCULUM 16-8 18-8
8. Wingate 17-9 17-9
9. Mars Hill 16-8 18-8
10. Limestone 17-8 17-8