02-17-2009, 04:21 PM
from goblueraiders.com, excerpt:
Quote:Blue Raiders enter Top 25 for first time this season
MT earns honor in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll
Athletic Communications
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The Middle Tennessee women's basketball team moved into the No. 25 position in the Feb. 17 ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll it was unveiled Tuesday. It marks the first time this season in which the Blue Raiders have been ranked nationally after receiving votes during seven other weeks.
Middle Tennessee replaced DePaul, who dropped out and fell to No. 30, in the poll.
The Lady Raiders entered the poll after a pair of Sun Belt wins last week. They began the week with a 75-60 victory at Troy Wednesday before defeating North Texas 113-58 at home Sunday.
The ranking is the 25th overall time in program history MT has earned a spot among the Coaches' Top 25.
It is the first time the Blue Raiders have been ranked by either the Coaches or Associated Press media since the end of the 2006-07 campaign. In those final polls, Middle Tennessee was No. 16 by the coaches and No. 17 by the media.
The Lady Raiders will continue play this week with a 7 p.m. Wednesday tip against South Alabama inside the Murphy Center. It will mark the next-to-last home game of the campaign for the MT squad, as it enters the final two weeks of the regular season.
Reigning Sun Belt Conference Player of the Week Alysha Clark will lead the Blue Raiders with her national-best 25.8 points per game average. She has been selected as the league's top player five weeks this season, matching the Sun Belt record.