Joplin, Mo. — The NCAA released its first Division II Central Region Rankings today and the Missouri Southern women’s basketball program finds itself in ninth.
The Lions are 16-6 overall and 10-5 in the MIAA and have qualified for the MIAA postseason tournament. 
The Central Region consists of teams from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC), the Great American Conference (GAC) and the MIAA. The champion of each conference is guaranteed a bid in the regional tournament and eight teams total qualify. The number one seed is offered the opportunity to host the event that will take place on March 14-16.
Emporia State is number one in the poll and Harding of the GAC is ranked second. Central Missouri is third, followed by Wayne State, Minnesota State, Pittsburg State, Northern State, Concordia-St. Paul, Southern and Fort Hays.
The complete regional poll is listed below.
| Central | |||
| Rank | School | In-Region Record | Overall DII Record |
| 1 | Emporia State | 18-2 | 20-2 |
| 2 | Harding | 20-1 | 22-1 |
| 3 | Central Missouri | 17-3 | 19-3 |
| 4 | Wayne State (Neb.) | 21-3 | 22-3 |
| 5 | Minnesota State-Mankato | 16-5 | 18-5 |
| 6 | Pittsburg State | 17-4 | 18-6 |
| 7 | Northern State | 17-5 | 17-5 |
| 8 | Concordia-St. Paul | 17-8 | 18-8 |
| 9 | Missouri Southern State | 13-6 | 13-6 |
| 10 | Fort Hays State | 13-6 | 13-6 |