KANSAS CITY, Mo-The Belhaven women's basketball team held at number 18 in the fifth regular season edition of the 2011-12 NAIA Division I Basketball Coaches' Top 25 Poll, the national office announced Monday. The Blazers were ranked 18th in last week's poll and started the year ranked 25th in the preseason poll.

Belhaven boasts an overall record of 16-5 and 9-1 in league play after securing key Southern States Athletic Conference wins against William Carey University 74-58 and 23rd ranked Loyola University (NO) 76-70 last week. The Blazers hold first place in the SSAC West Division by 1.5 games over Loyola University (NO). The Blazers will travel to Faulkner University in Montgomery, AL for an SSAC contest on Thursday night at 7:30 PM before returning home to face Spring Hill College (AL) in league play on Saturday at 2:00 PM.

Fellow SSAC members represented in this week's poll are Lee University (5th), Loyola University (23rd), and Shorter University is back in the top 25 at number 24.

The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conferences and independents. The next regular-season Top 25 poll will be announced on January 30th. The official NAIA Press release and complete top 25 poll can be viewed by clicking here.