NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - For the first time since becoming a member of the United States Collegiate Athletic Association, the University of Maine at Augusta women's basketball team is ranked first in the country in the latest coaches' poll for Division II women's basketball.

The Moose (10-4, 5-0, YSCC) are off to one of the best starts under sixth year head coach Jennifer Laney and share the top spot in this week's poll with Penn State Hazleton, with each team carrying 289 points. Both teams are four points ahead of third ranked Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and eight points in front of Yankee Small College West Division leader and defending YSCC champion, College of St. Joseph's of Vermont. 

The Moose have picked up key conference victories over Central Maine Community College and Southern Maine Community College to help them off to the best conference start since joining the YSCC, as UMA sits at 5-0 and in first place atop the YSCC East Conference Division standings. 

Among the 10 wins for the Moose was a 61-53 win over NCAA DIII Alfred State. Statistically, UMA has two of the top five scorers in the country in USCAA Division II, with Jamie Plummer (Richmond, Maine) ranked third in the nation in total points (218) and senior Darby Toth (North Port, Fla.) ranked fifth with 191 total points. Toth is also second in three pointers (36-87) and first in assists (67). 

UMA also boasts the two top rebounders in the country in Plummer, who leads in total rebounds with 150, and freshman Caitlin LaFountain (Topsham, Maine) with 139 boards. As a team, the Moose are averaging 40.4 rebounds per game. 

UMA looks to defend their undefeated mark at home tonight when the team hosts Unity College for a 5:30 p.m. start, followed by the men's game at 7:30. The team will then play a key non-conference match up against NCAA DIII Bates College on Tuesday evening.