Columbia, Mo. – This afternoon the NAIA national office announced the first 2018 NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll of the regular season. The Cougars, who have started the season with an 8-1 record including three wins over opponents in the preseason top 25 poll, stayed at fourth in this week's top 25 rankings.

The Cougars have been playing great basketball to start the season. They currently rank 10^th in the NAIA in assist/turnover ratio (1.181) while also ranking 16^th in turnover margin (6.778), total blocks (33), and total 3-point field goals made (70). They also rank in the top 30 in the NAIA in scoring defense per game (57.556), scoring margin (17.778), total assists (137), total steals (91), total scoring offense (678), and 3-point field goal percentage (0.340).

They are led by Morgan Brandt who currently leads the team in scoring (11.89/game), rebounding (8.78/game), and steals (2.11/game). She currently ranks 17^th in the NAIA in defensive rebounds per game (6.333), 23^rd in both total rebounds per game (8.778) and total rebounds (79), and in the top 50 in both free throw percentage (0.813) and total steals (19).

The Cougars will return to the court tomorrow, December 5^th when they travel to Kirksville, Missouri, to take on NCAA Division II opponent Truman State (Mo.) University in an exhibition game. They will return to regular season play on Thursday, December 13^th when they travel to Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, to take on the Williams Baptist (Ark.) University Eagles in an AMC matchup. Both games are set to start at 5:30 p.m.