Iowa Wesleyan Men Jump to #13 in NAIA, Women Receive Season-High Votes
MOUNT PLEASANT – The Iowa Wesleyan College men’s and women’s basketball teams continued their climb in the national rankings, both getting season-high votes in the NAIA Division II polls released Wednesday.
The Tiger men (16-3 overall, 4-1 Midwest Classic Conference) jumped five spots to No. 13 with 280 votes after posting come-from-behind wins last week over Grand View College (84-62) and Viterbo University (77-74). IWC scored a 101-96 victory over Ashford University Wednesday night and remained in second place in the MCC, one game behind William Penn University.
Coach Alan Magnani’s Tigers have been ranked in the top 18 in all five of the regular-season polls in 2005-06. IWC was rated as high as ninth nationally last season when it tied the school record with 22 wins. The Tigers are already guaranteed their fifth consecutive winning season.
The Tigers are the only team in the MCC to receive votes in this week’s poll.
The IWC women (14-6, 5-0) received nine honorable mention votes, standing 34th overall. The Tigers have earned national votes the last four weeks, including six last week.
Second-year coach Steve Williamson has the Tigers off to their best start in two decades and stands alone atop the MCC standings, one game ahead of St. Ambrose. The Tigers have reeled off six consecutive victories, including Wednesday’s 83-57 rout of Ashford. IWC is averaging 79.3 points during its current winning streak.
The Tigers’ 14 wins is the most at IWC since the 1985-86 squad won 17.
St. Ambrose is the only other MCC women’s team to receive national votes, getting two.
Collectively, the IWC men’s and women’s teams are 15-0 in home games this season. Both travel to play Waldorf College Saturday afternoon in Forest City. The women’s game is at 1 p.m. The men follow at 3 p.m.
For more information regarding the IWC men’s and women’s basketball program or any of the Tiger athletic teams, contact sports information director Kerry Kahl (319-385-6306 phone; 319-385-6384 FAX; kkahl@iwc.edu e-mail) or log on to IWC's web page at www.iwc.edu.