Central Islip, N.Y. – Dowling and New York Institute of Technology both maintain a spot in the latest USA Today Sports Division II Women's Basketball Top 25 Coaches poll released this afternoon. The two squads head in opposite directions however, with the Golden Lions rising to No. 14 and the Bears falling to No. 23.
Dowling moves up one spot after a 2-0 week clinched their second straight ECC Regular Season Championship. The Golden Lions moved to 21-3 (15-1 ECC) on the year with a 56-54 victory over NYIT and a 49-33 win over Mercy. The triumph over Mercy was the championship clinching victory, giving Dowling home court throughout the upcoming ECC Women's Basketball Championship. The Golden Lions, who rank No. 1 in Division II in scoring defense, wrap up their regular season with contests against Queens and Bridgeport this week.
Despite losses to Dowling and LIU Post last week, the Bears impressive 22-1 record coming in to last week was enough to keep them in the latest Top 25 poll. The pair of defeats cost the Bears a chance at winning the ECC Regular Season Championship for the first time in program history, but they have still wrapped up a bye into the semifinals of the ECC Championship next week. NYIT finishes off the best regular season in school history on Saturday when they travel to Rochester to take on Roberts Wesleyan.
To view the full poll, click here.
