COUNTDOWN TO MARCH MADNESS--WOMEN--WEEK ENDING 02/12/2005

NOTE: Each week through the conference tournaments, D-II South Sports will take a weekly look at the regional rankings in both the South and South Atlantic regions. Women's teams are profiled on Thursday, while the men are profiled on Friday.

Teams in conferences covered by D-II South Sports are listed in BOLD type.

SOUTH REGION:

1. Henderson State--Lady Reddies now region's top team thanks to impressive win streak.

2. Valdosta State--Gulf South Conference East Division title is the Lady Blazers to lose.

3. Central Arkansas--Sugar Bears look to prime themselves for stretch run in GSC West.

4. Paine--Lions have risen to the upper echelon in the SIAC.

5. Tuskegee--3-0 week propels Tigerettes into region's top five.

6. West Florida--Argonauts continue have solid season under Head Coach Shannan Bergen.

7. Tampa--Spartans have placed themselves in the driver's seat in Sunshine State Conference.

8. Arkansas-Monticello--Cotton Blossoms hope to blossom by the end of regular season.

9. Florida Tech--Panthers look to be on the prowl down the stretch.

10. Florida Gulf Coast--Eagles have a lot work to do to earn first-ever NCAA bid.

SOUTH ATLANTIC REGION

1. Shaw--Bears are ranked third in the nation this week.

2. Carson-Newman--Eagles have established themselves as one of the top teams in the South Atlantic Conference.

3. Clayton State--Lakers face key games against Peach Belt Conference arch-rival Georgia College & State University down the stretch.

4. Columbus State--Lady Cougars have started to right the ship to back-to-back losses.

5. USC Aiken--Two game slump puts Lady Pacers in a three-way for first place in PBC North with Augusta State and Lander.

6. Johnson C. Smith--Golden Bulls have misfortune of playing in the same conference (CIAA) as Shaw.

7. GC&SU--Lady Bobcats must win key games down the stretch if they want a return trip to the NCAA's.

8. Wingate--74-57 win over Presbyterian Wednesday night puts the Bulldogs in the driver's seat in SAC.

9. Armstrong Atlantic State--Inconsistency puts the Lady Pirates on NCAA bubble.

10. Newberry--Back-to-back losses may force the Indians out of the regional rankings.

For a complete breakdown on all of the regional rankings at the NCAA Division II level, log on to http://www.ncaasports.com.