Wildcats Claim Top Spot in Latest NAIA Ranking

12/17/2025 1:57:47 PM

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Bethel (Tenn.) Wildcats took over the #1 slot in the NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll, the national office annonunced Wednesday.

The Wildcats lead all five ranked Mid-South Conference squads in the rating. Since the prior ranking, Bethel has played just twice, winning those games by a combined 38 points. They are putting up 79.7 points per game while holding their opponents to just 55.7 (a 24 point differential). The Wildcats received 14 first-place votes and 534 voting points.

The Campbellsville Lady Tigers retained their #3 placement. They are undefeated (as is #1 Bethel and #6 Freed-Hardeman) with their 13-0 record on the year. The Lady Tigers have the nation's highest point differential, outscoring opponents by an average of 41.6 points per game.

The #6 Lady Lions, notably and recently, bested (RV) Grand View by 26 points. Their scoring margin eclipses even Bethel's at 25.6, led by sophomores Jenna Satterly and Lilly Kee.

The #12 Cumberlands Patriots have played the most contests of any MSC team between rating iterations. They have picked up four wins since, including a 16-point victory over (RV) Shawnee State (Ohio.). The #25 Georgetown Tigers fell two spots with their 3-1 record since the second national poll. That loss came against the (RV) William Carey Crusaders.

Dordt (Iowa.) suffered their first defeat of the year but still received four first-place votes and 510 voting points. Dakota State (S.D.) and Marian (Ind.) stuck to their previous spots, securing fourth and fifth with 481 and 479 points, respectively.

The fourth regular-season poll is scheduled to be released on Wednesday, January 14.

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.”