WINGATE, N.C. – The Belmont Abbey women's basketball team came in ranked No. 8 in the D2SIDA Southeast Regional Poll released Monday. It is the first time this season that the Crusaders have been ranked in the poll voted on by the region's sports information directors.

Belmont Abbey improved to 5-3 overall and 4-0 in Conference Carolinas following the team's 68-36 victory over Lees-McRae Saturday. The Crusaders have won five of its last six games during that stretch and have done so thanks to a defense that has allowed just 53.1 points per game this season. That ranking leads Conference Carolinas and is seventh across all of Division II women's basketball.

Belmont Abbey was ranked as high as No. 7 in last season's regional poll dating back to December 13, 2021. Belmont Abbey takes a break for finals before resuming Conference Carolinas play with a contest at North Greenville at 2 p.m. Saturday.

The link to the full poll can be found here.