ST. JOSEPH – The Missouri Western women’s basketball team stayed in the top-10 this week, moving up one spot to No. 8 in the WBCA/USA Today poll.

The Griffons have been in the top-10 since early January and are in the midst of the most successful season for the program in more than a decade. The team’s 21 wins are the most since the 2003-04 season and the 18-game winning streak to open the season was the program’s best ever. Head coach Rob Edmisson’s team is on pace to win more MIAA games than any team in program history.

Missouri Western is one of three programs from the NCAA Central Region in this week’s top-10. MIAA foe Fort Hays State checked in at No. 5 and Winona State from the NSIC is on Missouri Western’s heels at No. 9. Also representing the region in the poll are No. 15 Arkansas Tech, No. 21 Emporia State, No. 23 Pittsburg State and No. 25 Sioux Falls. The Griffons defeated Fort Hays State and Emporia State in the only scheduled games between the schools earlier this season. Missouri Western split two games against Pittsburg State and will not face another team currently ranked in the top-25 in the regular season.

The Griffons play the first of three-straight on the road, Feb. 11 at Northeastern State followed by trips to Central Oklahoma (Feb. 13) and Northwest Missouri State (Feb. 20). Missouri Western will conclude the regular season with home games against Washburn (Feb. 24) and Central Missouri (Feb. 27). The Griffons currently lead the MIAA by a half game over Fort Hays State. With a spot in the MIAA Tournament already clinched, the Griffons can secure a spot in the top-four with one more win. The top four seeds receive a bye in the first round of the tournament and play their first games in Kansas City’s Municipal Auditorium on March 3.

— MWSU Athletics —