Clayton State women retain No. 1 ranking in USA Today/ESPN Division II Coaches’ Poll

LILBURN, Ga. – November 22, 2011 – The first USA Today/ESPN Division II Coaches' Top 25 Poll for women's basketball was released on Tuesday and the Clayton State Lakers retained their No. 1 ranking in the nation.

Clayton State earned 747 points and 28 of the possible 30 first-place votes to stay No. 1 in the first regular season Top 25 poll.  Head coach Dennis Cox's Lakers are 3-0 overall to start the 2011-12 season with victories over Rollins and Tampa in the Spartan Challenge Tournament and last Saturday's 72-46 home victory over Newberry.

Bentley remained No. 2 in the poll, but there were numerous changes in the Top 10.  Arkansas Tech moves up one spot to No. 3, while Fort Lewis and Metro State each moved up two spots to No. 4 and No. 5, respectively.  Wayne State is ranked No. 6, up three spots, while Alaska-Anchorage and Cal-San Diego each jumped up five spots to No. 7 and No. 8.

Michigan Tech dropped six spots to No. 9 and Washburn moved up one spot into No. 10.

Clayton State is one of three teams from the Peach Belt Conference that are nationally ranked this week.  Lander is ranked No. 15 while USC Aiken is ranked No. 23.

Clayton State plays this weekend in the Chick-Fil-A Thanksgiving Classic at North Georgia in Dahlonega.  The Lakers take on Tusculum on Friday at 4 p.m. and then Brenau on Saturday at 2 p.m.