CHARLOTTE, N.C. --- The Tusculum University women's basketball team dropped to sixth in the D2SIDA Division II Southeast Region regional poll, released Monday.
The Pioneers (6-2, 1-1 South Atlantic Conference) defeated Lenoir-Rhyne 66-45 in their conference opener on Tuesday night before dropping a 78-71 decision to Catawba on Saturday. Tusculum had been ranked third in the D2SIDA Southeast rankings entering the week.
Anderson (6-1) returned to the top spot in the region after wins over Queens and UVa-Wise, while North Georgia (6-1) slipped to second following a 65-56 loss to Belmont Abbey. Limestone (5-1) moved up to third despite a loss to Belmont Abbey, with Catawba (6-0) leaping from eighth to fourth following victories over Newberry at Tusculum. Lander (4-2) moved up one position to fifth after beating Barton 87-61 in its only action of the week.
Following the Pioneers in a tie for seventh place are poll newcomer Belmont Abbey (5-1) and Wingate (6-2), which moved up from ninth. The Crusaders beat Limestone 82-78 in overtime and defeated North Georgia 65-56 to enter the rankings, with their only loss of the season coming 55-46 to Tusculum in their season opener. Wingate defeated Coker and Carson-Newman (5-3), which fell from seventh to ninth despite a win over Lincoln Memorial. Barton (4-2) dropped from fifth to tenth after its road loss to Lander.
Voting in the D2SIDA poll is conducted by selected media relations directors representing the three conference in the Southeast Region – the South Atlantic Conference, Conference Carolinas and the Peach Belt Conference.
The Pioneers are on the road for their only game of the week, a trip to Newberry on Saturday beginning at 2 p.m.
D2SIDA Women's Basketball Southeast Region Rankings through December 1 Rk Team (1st) W-L Pts LW 1. Anderson (5) 6-1 56 2 2. North Georgia (1) 6-1 53 1 3. Limestone 5-1 35 4 4. Catawba 6-0 34 8 5. Lander 4-2 32 6 6. TUSCULUM 6-2 30 3 t7 Belmont Abbey 5-1 28 RV t7 Wingate 6-2 28 9 9. Carson-Newman 5-3 20 7 10 Barton 4-2 11 5