INDIANAPOLIS --- The Tusculum College Women's basketball team has climbed one spot and is ranked No. 5 in this week's NCAA Division II South Atlantic Region Poll announced officials.

The Pioneers (24-3, 13-1 in South Atlantic Conference) are riding a nine-game winning streak, including Wednesday's 59-53 road win at Mars Hill, clinching TC its first out-right SAC title in school history.

At the end of the season, the top eight teams in the region receive a berth to the NCAA II Tournament. The three conferences that comprise the South Atlantic Region (South Atlantic Conference, Peach Belt Conference, Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association) each receive an automatic berth into the NCAA II Tournament, with five at-large berths being awarded.

Francis Marion holds the top in the region for a third straight week. Clayton State moved up a spot to second, while Augusta State climbed to third. Columbus State fell two spots to fourth, while Tusculum is fifth, followed by Wingate, North Georgia, Shaw, Johnson C. Smith and USC Aiken.

The Pioneers have concluded its regular season and now prepare for next week's Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament. Tusculum will be the top-seed in the tournament and will host a quarterfinal round game on Wednesday (Mar. 5) at 7 p.m. Official pairings and seeding for the tournament will be announced by the league office later this weekend.