The Gannon women’s basketball team is officially the top-ranked team in the country. The Lady Knights moved up one spot and are ranked No. 1 in the latest USA Today ESPN Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll released Tuesday afternoon. The squad jumped Franklin Pierce, which was the nation’s top-ranked team for seven straight weeks.

Head coach Cleve Wright’s program became only the second in school history to reach the nation’s highest ranking. The Gannon women’s lacrosse team was ranked No. 1 nationally in 2000 and 2001. Prior to the 2009-10 season, the highest women’s basketball national ranking was No. 5 on January 30, 2002. The highest men’s basketball national ranking was No. 3 on February 8, 1988.

Gannon (28-0) received 25 of the 27 first-place votes, accumulating 672 points. Franklin Pierce (24-1) picked up the final two first-place votes and was second with 618 points. The University of Indianapolis (25-2), Fort Lewis (Colo.) (26-2) and Michigan Tech (23-2) completed the top five.

West Texas A&M (25-2), Arkansas Tech (23-2), Fort Valley State (Ga.) (24-1), Delta State (Miss.) (21-2) and Lander (S.C.) (22-2) rounded out the top 10.

Gannon is one of two Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) teams listed in the top 25. Millersville (Pa.) is tabbed 23rd.

Seton Hill (Pa.), California (Pa.) and Fayetteville State (N.C.) were the other Atlantic region programs that received votes, but did not appear in the top 25.

Gannon moved to 28-0 for the first time in school history with PSAC Western Division road victories at Edinboro (80-72) and Indiana (Pa.) (69-48) last week. The Lady Knights have won 38 consecutive regular-season games dating back to last season. The program’s last regular-season loss was a 65-52 setback at Indiana (Pa.) on January 24, 2009.

Few teams have matched Gannon’s success this season. The Lady Knights own the second-longest winning streak at any level of the NCAA, behind only NCAA Division I Connecticut’s 66-game streak. Gannon’s 38-game regular-season win streak also represents the second-longest at any level of the NCAA, behind UConn’s 65-game stretch. The squad is the lone undefeated team left in NCAA Division II and one of five teams at any level. Division I UConn (27-0), Division I Nebraska (25-0), Division III Amherst (25-0) and Division III Christopher Newport (25-0) also have unblemished marks.

Gannon (28-0, 12-0) returns to action Wednesday, February 24 against rival Mercyhurst at the Hammermill Center. Game time is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. The Lady Knights have already clinched the PSAC Western Division regular-season title and home-court advantage throughout the PSAC Tournament.