SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— The Drury Lady Panthers are the number one team in the nation in this week’s NCAA-II coaches’ poll. Drury is 13-1 and moved up from a number two national ranking to the top spot after their 90-42 win over William Jewell on Sunday. Lubbock Christian, previously ranked number one, fell to 12-2 after a 59-42 loss to Texas A&M-Kingsville and are now ranked sixth.
Texas A&M-Commerce (11-0) is ranked second and received six first-place votes, while Drury picked up 17 votes for first. Fort Hays State (10-1) and Lander (9-1) are tied for third.
This week’s poll marks the first time the Lady Panthers have been ranked number one this season. The last time they occupied the top spot was on Feb. 2, 2021. Drury was ranked number one in the NCAA-II coaches’ poll from start to finish in the 2019-20 season.
This week’s poll also marks the 125th consecutive week the Lady Panthers have been ranked in the top 25, the longest streak in the nation. It is also their 63rd straight week in the top 10.
The Lady Panthers are in action tonight at Southwest Baptist. Game time in Bolivar is at 5:30 pm. Drury is back at home on Saturday with a 1 pm against Lewis at the O’Reilly Family Event Center.
Fans can purchase men’s and women’s basketball tickets online on the Drury Panthers website, by contacting the O’Reilly Family Event Center box office at 417-873-7000, or emailing the box office – tickets@drury.edu.
NCAA-II Coaches’ Poll – Jan. 4, 2022
| Rank | Team | Points | 1st Place Votes | Last Week |
| 1 | Drury (13-1) | 567 | 17 | 2 |
| 2 | Texas A&M-Commerce (11-0) | 535 | 6 | 3 |
| 3t | Fort Hays State (10-1) | 495 | 0 | 5 |
| 3t | Lander (9-1) | 495 | 0 | 4 |
| 5 | Glenville State (10-0) | 438 | 0 | 6 |
| 6 | Lubbock Christian (12-2) | 424 | 0 | 1 |
| 7 | Western Washington (10-0) | 423 | 0 | 7 |
| 8 | Ashland (11-1) | 422 | 0 | 8 |
| 9 | Nebraska Kearney (11-1) | 377 | 0 | 10 |
| 10 | Azusa Pacific (9-1) | 374 | 0 | 9 |
| 11 | Alaska Anchorage (8-1) | 351 | 0 | 11 |
| 12 | Indiana, PA (10-1) | 298 | 0 | 14 |
| 13 | North Georgia (8-1) | 286 | 0 | 13 |
| 14 | Colorado Mines (12-1) | 258 | 0 | 16 |
| 15 | Gannon (9-1) | 239 | 0 | 15 |
| 16 | Grand Valley State (10-1) | 218 | 0 | 17 |
| 17t | Catawba (11-0) | 178 | 0 | 18 |
| 17t | Southwestern Oklahoma State (12-2) | 178 | 0 | 19 |
| 19 | Union, TN (11-2) | 158 | 0 | 20 |
| 20 | Eckerd (9-0) | 153 | 0 | 23 |
| 21 | Tampa (13-3) | 128 | 0 | 12 |
| 22 | Valdosta State (11-2) | 113 | 0 | 22 |
| 23 | Barton (9-1) | 93 | 0 | 23 |
| 24 | Missouri Western State (11-1) | 47 | 0 | NR |
| 25 | University of the Sciences (8-1) | 40 | 0 | NR |
Dropped out: No. 21 Minnesota State Mankato (11-1); No. 25 Lee, TN (11-3).
Others receiving votes: Minnesota State Mankato (11-1) 28; Savannah State 24 (9-0); Shepherd (10-1) 21; Southern Indiana (8-2) 17; Lee, TN (11-3) 16; Saint Cloud State (9-2) 14; Saginaw Valley State (9-2) 12; Southern New Hampshire (9-2) 9; Ferris State (10-2) 7; West Florida (11-2) 3.
