INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The Moravian College women's basketball team comes in at a No. 4 ranking in the Mid-Atlantic Region in the season's first Division III regional rankings released by the NCAA on Wednesday afternoon.
The Greyhounds (17-4) are ranked behind No. 1 FDU-Florham (21-0, 20-0 in Division III), No. 2 Scranton (17-3) and No. 3 Haverford (17-3, 16-3). Moravian defeated No. 2 Scranton, 66-65, on the Royals' home court on Jan. 29 and the Bethlehem end of the home-and-home series is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 19 at 7 p.m. in Johnston Hall.
"We are very happy to see that," Head Coach Mary Beth Spirk said. "We were disappointed losing on Saturday so it makes us appreciate that the whole body of work is being looked at. We just have to keep winning and we'll be in a good position at the end of the regular season."
Four Landmark Conference games is all that remains for Spirk's squad this winter, the first of which tips off tonight at The United States Merchant Marine Academy. After a road trip to Susquehanna University on Saturday, Feb. 15, the Greyhounds (8-2 Landmark) will face the top two teams in the conference, Scranton and The Catholic University of America at home. The Cardinals, ranked No. 5 in the Atlantic Region, come to town in the regular season finale on Saturday, Feb. 22 at 4 p.m.
"It's ironic because we just talked to the seniors about ECAC's and NCAA's today," Spirk said. "We want to play in any postseason playoffs, but we would really like to play in the NCAA Tournament. The best way is to win your conference. All it is, after all, is a ranking. If this was the last day of the season, I'd be thrilled. It doesn't mean anything if we do not follow through and win these last four games."
With postseason basketball rapidly approaching, the first release of the regional rankings helps the national tournament playoff picture take shape. The ranking serves as a benchmark as to where a team stands for an at-large bid to the Big Dance if the automatic bid from winning a conference tournament is not obtained.
Strength of schedule, quality wins, in-division schedule and home/away splits are all weighed in the regional rankings, similar to the criteria considered for at-large bids come NCAA Tournament time.
The Greyhounds started the season 13-2, with the first two losses of the season coming to nationally-ranked teams on the road at then-No. 19 Trinity University in Texas and at then-No. 11 Montclair State University, which is currently ranked No. 2 in the Atlantic Region. Moravian owns wins over two previously-ranked programs, including then-No. 23 Juniata College and then-No. 25 The University of Scranton, both on the road.
The Blue & Grey also defeated The College of New Jersey, ranked No. 6 in the Atlantic Region.
Moravian has played all of its contests within Division III and is 10-1 in Johnston Hall, 7-2 on the road and 0-1 on a neutral court.
To view the full Division III Regional Rankings Week One release, click here.
