LILBURN, Ga. - The Fort Hays State women's basketball team moved to No. 8 in this week's WBCA NCAA Division II Coaches Poll, released Tuesday (Feb. 3) by the coaches association.
 
The Tigers picked up 413 points in the voting process after going 1-1 last week, down from 479 points last week. FHSU is now 19-2 overall and is tied for first at 10-2 in the MIAA.
 
The Central region includes four of the top 15 teams in the country, more than any other region. Minnesota State Mankato is one of two undefeated teams in Division II and ranks second, while Harding is 11th and MIAA rival Pittsburg State is 15th. Defending national champion Grand Valley State held on to the top spot again this week.
 
The Tigers are one of only four teams to rank inside the top 10 of all 12 weekly polls released by the WBCA during the 2025-26 season. Fort Hays State has occupied seven of those top 10 spots at some point this season, ranking as high as No. 3 in weeks one and three and as low as No. 9 in the preseason.
 
This is the second time this season and the seventh time in program history that the Tigers have been ranked No. 8 in the coaches poll. The Tigers are 9-0 when ranked eighth in the country, including a 3-0 record in games away from home. FHSU was last ranked eighth on December 9 before the Tigers took down sixth-ranked Pittsburg State later that week. The Tigers have more wins without a loss when ranked eighth than any other position in the poll.
 
The Tigers have now been ranked 132 times in the program's DII era, including 91 appearances inside the top 10. FHSU is 204-50 all-time when ranked and 150-30 when ranked inside the top 10.
 
Fort Hays State will be on the road this week starting Thursday (Feb. 5) when the Tigers take on Northeastern State in Tahlequah, Okla. First tip is set for 5:30 p.m.
 
WBCA NCAA Division II Coaches Poll - February 3, 2026
Rank - School (1st) - W-L - Points - Last Week
1 - Grand Valley State (23) - 20-0 - 575 - 1
2 - Minnesota State Mankato - 22-0 - 552 - 2
3 - Texas Woman's - 18-1 - 528 - 3
4 - Colorado Mesa - 22-1 - 496 - 7
5 - Gannon - 20-2 - 461 - 8
6 - Indiana (Pa.) - 18-1 - 447 - 10
7 - West Texas A&M - 19-2 - 437 - 6
8 - Fort Hays State - 19-2 - 413 - 5
9 - Cal Poly Pomona - 18-2 - 358 - 13
10 - Nova Southeastern - 19-2 - 339 - 4
11 - Harding - 16-3 - 316 - 15
12 - Central Washington - 19-2 - 312 - 9
13 - Daemen - 17-2 - 281 - 16
14 - Northern Michigan - 18-4 - 279 - 12
15 - Pittsburg State - 15-4 - 247 - 11
16 - Miles - 17-3 - 190 - 20
17 - Coker - 16-4 - 176 - 14
18 - Ferris State - 16-4 - 172 - 21
19 - Columbus State - 17-3 - 158 - 22
20 - Lubbock Christian - 16-4 - 116 - 23
21 - Winston-Salem State - 17-2 - 115 - 18t
22 - Bentley - 14-3 - 104 - 18t
23 - Embry-Riddle - 15-4 - 102 - 17
24 - Lincoln Memorial - 16-3 - 41 - RV
25 - Lenoir-Rhyne - 16-4 - 40 - RV
 
Dropped out: No. 24 Northwestern Oklahoma State (14-5); No. 25 Missouri-St. Louis (16-3).
 
Others receiving votes: Malone (16-4) 28; Arkansas Tech (14-3) 25; Northwood (16-5) 24; Central Missouri (16-5) 19; Missouri-St. Louis (16-3) 15; Glenville State (16-3) 14; Northwestern Oklahoma State (14-5) 13; Adams State (17-5) 10; Fayetteville State (15-2) 8; Holy Family (17-3) 5.