IUP women vault to No. 1

There is a new No. 1 in Division II women’s basketball, according to at least one of the top national polls.

IUP rocketed to the top spot this week for the first time in program history in the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Top 25 Coaches’ Poll.

IUP (11-0) picked up 20 of 23 first-place votes to jump from the No. 2 spot.

The Crimson Hawks, who have a strong WPIAL presence on the roster, are averaging 81.5 points and winning by an average margin of 34 points a game.

Local players include senior guard Carolyn Appleby (Greensburg Central Catholic), senior guard Lauren Wolosik (North Catholic), junior guard Lexi Griggs (Vincentian), junior guard-forward Natalie Myers (Burrell), and redshirt sophomores Courtney Alexander (OLSH) and Madison Kerr (Peters Township).

The rest of the top five includes No. 2 West Texas A&M (12-0), No. 3 Drury (13-0), No. 4 Fort Hays State (13-0) and No. 5 Northwest Nazarene (12-0).

Union was ranked No. 1 last week but lost to Lee, 56-51, to fall to No. 8.

IUP started 15-0 before losing last season but did not reach No. 1. Cal U (11-1), another PSAC program, is ranked No. 16 this week.

IUP is ranked fifth in the D2SIDA Media Top 25 this week, moving up one spot. Cal U is No. 13 in that poll.

In the Atlantic Region rankings, the Crimson Hawks remain No. 1.

Bill Beckner is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Bill at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.