ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon women's basketball team moved up one spot and is ranked third in the latest USA Today ESPN Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll released Tuesday afternoon. It represents the highest national basketball ranking in school history regardless of gender. The Gannon men's basketball team was tabbed third nationally on February 8, 1988.

Franklin Pierce (17-0) remained No. 1 for the fourth straight week, receiving 23 first-place votes and 644 points. The University of Indianapolis (19-0), Gannon (20-0), Michigan Tech (16-1) and Emporia State (Kan.) (17-1) completed the top five. Indianapolis captured two first-place votes while Gannon received one first-place vote.

Delta State (Miss.) (15-1), Arkansas Tech (18-0), Fort Lewis (Colo.) (18-2), West Texas A&M (19-2) and the University of California-San Diego (15-1) rounded out the top 10.

Head coach Cleve Wright's squad is one of three Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) teams listed in the top 25. California (Pa.) and Millersville are ranked 20th and 24th, respectively.

Bowie State (Md.), Shaw (N.C.) and Elizabeth City State (N.C.) were the other Atlantic region programs that received votes, but did not appear in the top 25.

Gannon moved to 20-0 for the first time in school history with PSAC Western Division victories over Slippery Rock (74-40) and Indiana (Pa.) (75-59) last week. The Lady Knights have won 30 consecutive regular-season games dating back to last season. The program's last regular-season loss was a 65-52 setback at Indiana (Pa.) on January 24, 2009.

Gannon (20-0, 4-0) returns to action Wednesday, January 27 against rival Edinboro at the Hammermill Center. Game time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. The contest can be heard live on 90.5 WERG and via the Internet at http://www.gannon.edu/athletics/werg/knightsound.html.

For the complete USA Today ESPN Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll, please click here.