2012-13 Week 1 USA TODAY Sports Division II Top 25 Coaches' Poll
Lilburn, GA -- The Urban Knights' hot start to the 2012-13 season was nationally recognized with Tuesday's release of the
USA TODAY Sports Division II Top 25 women's basketball poll as determined by the USA Sports board of coaches, 33 members of the
Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). Appearing on the poll for the first time in program history, Academy of Art University found itself ahead of Pacific West Conference member Dixie State College, Grand Valley State, and four others. ART U has never trailed through four games this season.
"It's great to be recognized on a national level so early into our building process," second-year head coach
LaNay Larson said. "With that being said, we have a lot of work to do to get where we want and it only gets tougher from here on out."
Rattling off four consecutive victories to begin the year, Academy of Art University swept the CCAA/PacWest Challenge by defeating Humboldt State 86-65 in the season opener (
Nov. 9) then overcoming tournament host Cal State East Bay 59-56 (
Nov. 10).
"We now have a target on our backs and must be prepared to give maximum effort every single game," Coach Larson said.
When the Knights returned to Kezar Pavilion for their home tip-off, they scored a program-record 56 points in the first half against the Alaska Nanooks en route to a 91-71 victory (
Nov. 16). Most recently on
Nov. 18, ART U topped Nebraska Kearney 72-62 with stifling defense contributing to an impressive 134-68 differential in points off turnovers on the year.
Founded in 1981, the mission of the WBCA is to promote women's basketball by unifying coaches at all levels to develop a reputable identity for the sport of women's basketball and to foster and promote the development of the game of basketball as a sport for women and girls.
Collegiate, high school, junior high school, club, youth, national, international and Olympic coaches comprise the membership. Other members include former players, members of the media, sports information directors, officials and fans of the sport. The WBCA is committed to servicing its members and helping to grow women's basketball by providing education, networking opportunities, information and news, legislative updates, and serving as the voice of the membership to the NCAA.
