STEPHENVILLE – Following a season-opening victory, Tarleton has cracked the USA Today/ESPN Women's Division II Coaches Poll. The TexAnns will debut in the poll at the No. 21 spot.
 
“It's early, but it's definitely a good starting point,” said Tarleton head coach Ronnie Hearne. “Hopefully, we can just take care of our business and keep moving up the ladder. We've got a lot of tough games over the next 2-3 weeks, starting today with a good UTPB team.”
 
Tarleton is the only LSC team in the top 25 poll while only one other conference rival received votes. However, non-conference TexAnn opponents Northeastern State and St. Mary's received several votes as well.
 
This is the first time Tarleton has been in ranked in the nation since opening last season as the No. 24 team in the country. After starting 2-5, the TexAnns fell out of the rankings.
 
Despite falling out of the top 25 poll, Tarleton went on to win the Lone Star Conference regular season championship and the tournament championship before earning their third straight trip to the NCAA regional tournament.
 
This season, Tarleton is 1-0 after blowing out NAIA powerhouse Texas Wesleyan in the season opener and are slated for a 6 p.m. Tuesday affair at Texas-Permian Basin in Odessa before returning home Saturday for a 5 p.m. game at Northeastern State, who is on the outside looking in as the top vote getter to not crack the poll after falling from the No. 23 spot.

For the complete polls, visit NCAA.com.