LILBURN, Ga. -- For the first time this season, The University of South Dakota women's basketball team has made an appearance in the USA Today/ESPN Division II Coaches' Poll, according to an announcement today by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association. The Coyotes are ranked 22nd after previously being unranked. South Dakota, which owns a six-game winning streak, has opened the season with an 8-1 record.

Coach Chad Lavin's Coyotes will host two weekend home games against Southwest Minnesota State on Saturday and Mount Mercy on Sunday at the DakotaDome.

North Dakota (8-0) is the nation's number one ranked team. A total of four teams from the region are ranked in the poll. UND and USD are joined by ninth-ranked Concordia-St. Paul (7-0) and 25th-ranked Minnesota State-Mankato (7-0).