Carson-Newman Breaks Into Top 25 At No. 22 In WBCA USA TODAY/ESPN Division II Coaches’ Poll

LILBURN, Ga. - The Carson-Newman women’s basketball team is ranked in the top 25 for the first time this season, WBCA officials announced Tuesday evening. The Lady Eagles break into the rankings at No. 22 after receiving votes in the past four polls.

Carson-Newman moved to 9-0 on the year on Saturday when it defeated then-No. 8 Clayton State on the road by a 65-62 score. The Lady Eagles trailed by as much as 11 points in the contest before responding with two key runs in the second half en route to the victory. C-N is off to its best start since it became a NCAA Division II before the 1993-94 season.

Michigan Tech is the top team in the land for the fifth-straight week, while Clayton State falls seven places to No. 15. Fellow South Atlantic Conference school Lenoir-Rhyne drops one place to 23rd in the poll while Tusculum and Newberry are each receiving votes.

Junior guard Mandy Mendenhall (Kingston Springs, Tenn.) led the way for the C-N with 21 points in the game, adding four rebounds and three steals. She was named SAC Player of the Week for her efforts.

Carson-Newman has won five straight road games after opening the season with four contests at Holt Fieldhouse. The Lady Eagles have two more road games before returning home on January 2 for a SAC matchup against Newberry.

C-N returns to the court Saturday when it travels to USC Aiken to take on the Pacers at 1:30 p.m.

The WBCA USA TODAY/ESPN Division II Top 25 Coaches’ Poll is voted on by 30 head coaches from across the nation at NCAA Division II institutions.

To view the full poll, please click here.