The University of South Dakota women's basketball team, led by Bridget Yoerger (pictured here), is ranked number one in the North Central Region Poll, according to an announcement Wednesday by the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Committee.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- By virtue of their 15-game winning streak, The University of South Dakota women’s basketball team has earned the number one ranking in the North Central Region Poll, which was released for the first time this season on Wednesday by the NCAA Division II Women’s Basketball Committee.

The Coyotes (17-1, 3-0 NCC), who are fourth in the USA Today/ESPN Women’s Top 25 Poll, are followed in region by North Dakota, Concordia University, Fort Lewis, Augustana, Minnesota State, Wayne State (Neb.), Nebraska-Kearney, Nebraska-Omaha and Metropolitan State.

The regional rankings will be released by the basketball committee every Wednesday through March 5. The North Central Region will send its top eight teams to the NCAA Division II national tournament at the end of the season. Automatic bids are granted to the winners of the NCC, NSIC and RMAC post-season tournaments, with the remaining five spots in the field awarded on an at-large basis.

South Dakota will host Minnesota Duluth at 6 p.m. on Thursday (January 31) at the DakotaDome.