NORTH DARTMOUTH, Mass. - The No. 14 Eastern Connecticut State University Warriors lead the top four teams in the Little East Conference standings in the latest edition of the NCAA Division III Northeast Regional Poll, according to the second survey released by the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Committee this evening. The New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) and the University Athletic Association (UAA) are the only other conferences represented in the eight-team field.

Eastern Connecticut and Western Connecticut State University held steady at fifth and sixth, while the University of Southern Maine debuted at seventh followed by Keene State College. The Northeast regional poll is based on the results through Feb. 15.

Under the leadership of Head Coach Denise Bierly, the Warriors continued to rise in the two most prominent Division III women's basketball national polls, (D3Hoops.com #14, USA Today/ESPN #17). Eastern Connecticut won both of its Little East Conference games this past week, defeating Western Connecticut and UMass Dartmouth. The victory over the Colonials put the Warriors in sole possession of first place in the Little East. Senior center Ashley McFetridge (Canton, Conn.) leads Eastern Connecticut with 14.9 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, while classmate guard Christina Amato (Marlboro, Mass.) has handed out a team-high 101 assists.   

Head Coach Kimberly Rybczyk has led the Colonials to victories in 17 of their past 19 games to march Western Connecticut closer to locking up the second seed in the Little East Tournament. Rybczyk and her charges split a pair of conference games this past week, losing to the Warriors and edging Keene State College. Senior forward Stacey Roberts (Windham, Conn.) paces the Colonials' attack with 9.9 points per game, while sophomore center Melissa Teel (Hamden, Conn.) is pulling in 7.3 rebounds per game.    

The University of Southern Maine is making its debut in the Northeast Regional rankings in the seventh position. The Huskies turned in a pair of Little East Conference wins this past week, defeating UMass Boston and Rhode Island College each by double figures. Head Coach Mike McDevitt and his team lead the conference circuit in scoring offense (68.8 ppg) as three student-athletes are averaging double figures in the scoring column. Senior forward Stacey Kent (Northwood, N.H.) sits atop the Little East in scoring with 16.6 points per game.

Keene State College slipped one spot from seventh to eighth in the latest Northeast Regional poll, after posting a 1-1 week. The Owls have won seven of their past nine games, including a 6-2 mark in the Little East. Junior guard Kristen Degou (Newburyport, Mass.) and classmate forward Nicole Simmler (Uxbridge, Mass.) lead the Keene State College offense with 13.2 and 11.4 points per game, respectively. The Owls will face Eastern Connecticut and UMass Boston to complete their 14-game conference circuit.

The top four teams in the Little East Conference standings have already clinched a home quarterfinal playoff game in the upcoming 2009 Little East Conference Women's Basketball Championship Tournament. Eastern Connecticut has secured the top seed and the right to host the tournament, while Western Connecticut, University of Southern Maine, and Keene State College have locked up the remaining three seeds. The quarterfinal round will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 24 with the four winners advancing to the semifinal round at the highest remaining seed. The 2009 Little East Conference Championship game is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 28 with the conference champion earning the automatic qualifier into the 2009 NCAA Division III Tournament.