Lady Bulldogs remain No. 7 in NAIA ratings

Cumberland remained No. 7 nationally in the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll, the national office announced Tuesday, the first regular season ranking of the new year and the first national rating since Dec. 11.

The Bulldogs have been ranked in the last three national rankings dating to Dec. 4 after getting off to a 9-0 start through November, which included three consecutive road victories to begin Mid-South Conference play. During that stretch CU defeated then second-ranked Shawnee State and then No. 18 the University of the Cumberlands in consecutive games.

Cumberland stands 14-1 overall this season, 5-1 in MSC action, after splitting a pair of contests last week at home. The Bulldogs dropped a 57-55 decision against St. Catharine College before rebounding with a 66-64 win over then No. 21 Georgetown College. CU leads fourth Mid-South teams in the national rankings this week, with Campbellsville University at No. 10, Shawnee State at No. 13 and Georgetown at No. 23. St. Catharine and the University of the Cumberlands are both in the Receiving Votes category.

The No. 7 national ranking ties for the highest by the program since 1999-00. Before receiving the No. 7 ranking on Dec. 4 of this season, the Bulldogs were last ranked in the Top 10 nationally on Jan. 8, 2007 (8th), and were last No. 7 in consecutive polls on Jan. 11 and Jan. 18, 2006.