Northeastern State Lands No. 8 Region Rank

The Northeastern State women's basketball team checked in at No. 8 in the NCAA Central Region rankings.

The RiverHawks (19-7, 14-4 MIAA) are looking to return to the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Championship for the fourth-straight year. NSU has advanced to the NCAA Second Round each of the last three years, and even made an appearance in the Sweet 16 in 2009-10.

The top eight schools in each region qualify for the NCAA Championship, and the selection show will air at 9:30 p.m. March 10 on NCAA.com.

The MIAA controls the top two spots in the region, with Washburn and Central Missouri locked in at No. 1 and No. 2, respectively. Truman State (No. 9) and Emporia State (No. 10) also landed inside the top 10.

NSU has earned the No. 3 seed in the 2013 MIAA Championship quarterfinals and will play No. 6 Fort Hays State at 8:15 p.m. March 8 inside Kansas City's Municipal Auditorium.

NCAA Division II Women's Basketball Central Region Rankings (March 6)

1. Washburn

2. Central Missouri

3. Concordia-St. Paul

4. Minnesota State

5. Arkansas Tech

6. Augustana (S.D.)

7. Southwestern Oklahoma State

8. Northeastern State

9. Truman State

10. Emporia State