Kansas City, Mo. -- On the strength of three consecutive wins, including a six-point triumph over then #12 Campbellsville, the William Woods University women's basketball team returned to the NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25, it was announced today by the national office. The Owls improve one spot over their preseason ranking, earning 80 points en route to the no. 22 spot in the weekly poll.

WWU is currently the only American Midwest Conference school among the top 25, although conference foes Park University and Columbia College are each receiving votes. The Owls will open AMC play at home on Thursday evening, taking on Hannibal-LaGrange University. The game - the first of a doubleheader with the WWU men - is slated for a 5:30 p.m. tip at Anderson Arena.