Bethel Leads Five MSC Teams Ranked in NAIA Rating

11/26/2025 7:39:18 PM

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Bethel (Tenn.) Wildcats sustained their second placement while the Campbellsville (Ky.) Lady Tigers stayed third, the Freed-Hardeman Lady Lions fell a spot into seventh, the Cumberlands (Ky.) Patriots shifted up to 18th, and the Georgetown (Ky.) Tigers cracked the top 25 in the newest NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll, the national office annonunced Wednesday.

The Wildcats, Lady Tigers, Lady Lions, and Tigers are all unbeaten on the year, combining for 41 wins. Bethel is 11-0, outscoring their last four opponents by 37, 25, 40, and 27 points. Non-conference play has proven to be fortuitous for the Lady Tigers and Lady Lions as well; each of both teams' victories have been double-digit victories.

The Patriots made it three consecutive polls climbing higher up the national ranks. A significant contributor to their success thus far has been their 18.9 rebounding margin this year which is second best in the NAIA. The Georgetown Tigers, finding themselves ranked for the first time this year T-23, are also second-best in the nation at a crucial category, averaging 102.3 points per game.

Dordt (Iowa.) received all 20 first-place votes and 540 voting points to keep their number one spot. Dakota State (S.D.) and Marian (Ind.), for the second straight rating, flipped positions, landing fourth and fifth with 468 and 467 points, respectively.

The third regular-season poll is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, December 17.

Poll Methodology

  • The national poll is for publicity purposes only and does not influence the selection process for national championship consideration.
  • A panel of head coaches representing each conference and the Continental Athletic Conference (Independents) votes in the poll.
  • The Top 25 teams are selected using a points-based system:
    • 30 points for a 1st-place vote, 29 for 2nd, 28 for 3rd, and so on.
  • The highest and lowest rankings received by each team are discarded before final tallying.
  • Teams receiving only one point are not listed as “receiving votes.”