Spartan Women Continue Top-25 Climb
LILBURN, Ga. - After breaking into the national rankings last week, the University of Tampa women's basketball team has moved up to No. 16, as announced Tuesday by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA).
The Spartans remain perfect on the season at 7-0, including five victories away from the Martinez Center. Among UT's victories was a triumph over West Region finalist UC-San Diego on the road along with a South Region win at Palm Beach Atlantic.
UT achieved its first ranking of the season on Dec. 11, coming in at No. 24 after starting the year unranked.
Tampa is among two Sunshine State Conference schools in the national rankings, joined by No. 23 Rollins College. Nova Southeastern dropped out of the rankings, but is still receiving votes.
While outscoring opponents by nearly 16 points per game, the Spartans have four players scoring in double figures. Illyssa Vivo is the team's top scorer at 13.9 points per game as Moriah Hodge (13.0), Juliana Cavallaro (11.6) and Shamika Williams (11.4) are all scoring in double figures.
Under head coach Tom Jessee, the Spartans are no stranger to the national polls as UT has been ranked in five of the past six seasons. It also marks the 23rd week in the rankings for the Jessee-led Spartans.
Tampa returns to action on Tuesday against the University of Alabama in Huntsville in a neutral site contest that will be played at Florida Southern College. Tampa will follow that up with a Wednesday meeting with the University of North Alabama. Both South Region meetings are scheduled for 5:30 p.m., in Lakeland, Fla.
Live stats and a webcast will be available through TampaSpartans.com.
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