Lady T-Birds ranked No. 2 for 3rd straight week

Tatiana Wright takes to the air before attempting a shot for No. 2 ranked NMJC during the Lady T-Birds' 71-48 win over No. 11 Frank Phillips College Monday night at Caster Activity Center.

JASON FARMER NEWS-SUN

New Mexico Junior College's women's basketball team just keeps on winning. Following the Lady Thunderbirds 71-48 win Monday night over Frank Phillips, the Lady T-Birds are a perfect 21-0 this season. But, even with their perfect record, the Lady T-Birds are still ranked No. 2 in the nation, because the No. 1 team, Shelton State is also undefeated, having started the season 22-0.

The Lady Thunderbirds have been ranked No. 2 for three straight weeks. Last week the NMJC women picked up two points in the poll, but this week the team stood pat at 192 points, eight points behind Shelton State.

As for the rest of the NJCAA top 10, there was some movement. Northwest Florida State moved up two spots to No.3 while Jones County moved up one spot to No. 6. Gulf Coast State slipped one spot to No. 4 and Tallahassee fell two spot to No. 6., Moberly Area (No. 7), Trinity Valley (No. 8), Wabash Valley (No. 9), and Salt Lake (No. 10) all remained the same.

There are only four schools left with undefeated records. Joining Shelton State and NMJC in the no lose column are Moberly Area (20-0) and ASA Brooklyn (16-0). Aside from NMJC, Frank Phillips is the only other team from the Western Junior College Athletic Conference in the top 25. The Lady Plainsmen also stood pat at No. 11, despite falling to the Lady T-Birds.

Seward County and Pensacola State swapped spots. Seward County moved up to No. 12 while Pensacola slipped to No. 13. Cochise gained two spots, moving up to No. 14 while Cowley moved up three spots to No. 15. Collin County slipped one spot to No. 16.

Hutchinson held on to the No. 17 spot while Florida SouthWestern State and Norther Oklahoma Enid each moved up a spot to No. 18 and No. 19. ASA Brooklyn moved into the No. 20 spot, a gain of three places. Casper, now ranked No. 22, moved up two spots.

New to the rankings this week are Panola, Southern Idado, North Dakota SCS, and Walters State. Southern Idaho was ranked earlier in the season, but fell out of the rankings two polls ago.

Last week Panola was not even among the teams outside the top 25 that were receiving votes. This week, Panola, with its 15-3 record, is ranked No.

21. Southern Idaho returned to the poll at No. 23 while North Dakota SCS moved in to the No. 24 spot. Like Panola, Walters State was not among those outside the top 25 receiving votes last week, but this week, Walters State is ranked No. 25.

South Georgia Tech, San Jacinto-North, Odessa College, and Eastern Florida State all dropped out of the top 25. Of the four to fall out, Eastern Florida State and South Georgia Tech are still among the teams receiving some votes.

New Mexico Junior College will put its perfect record on the line Thursday when the Lady T-Birds play Odessa College.