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Feb. 25, 2009

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - The Western Washington University men's and women's basketball teams are both fifth in the latest NCAA Division II West Region polls released Wednesday.

The Vikings dropped two spots in the men's poll. Brigham Young Hawaii remained on top, followed by Cal State Dominguez Hills, Cal Poly Pomona, Central Washington, WWU, Seattle Pacific, Saint Martin's and Chaminade.

Western fell one spot in the women's poll with Seattle Pacific taking over as No.1, followed by UC San Diego, Alaska Anchorage, Humboldt State, WWU, Cal State Dominguez Hills, Northwest Nazarene, and Cal Poly Pomona.

The regional rankings - compiled by the NCAA for all eight DII regions - are the lone determining factor for NCAA Tournament qualification, including the opportunity to host all or part of a regional tournament. They will be released every Wednesday through Mar. 4, leading to the announcement of the playoff field on Mar. 8. The rankings consider only games against Division II competition and put an added emphasis on games versus in-region opponents.

In the West Region, the weekly poll eventually determines which five teams receive at-large berths and join the Great Northwest Athletic Conference, California Collegiate Athletic Association and Pacific West Conference champions in the NCAA playoffs.

The GNAC and PacWest determine their automatic berths by the regular season standings. The CCAA automatic berth is determined by a post-season tournament. Under new guidelines announced three weeks ago, if the playoffs were to begin tomorrow, the men's regional would be an eight-team format (BYU Hawaii, since two Hawaii teams are in top 8) and the women's regional would also have all eight teams at one site (Seattle Pacific).

The Western men, 17-5, host Western Oregon tonight (7 p.m.) and are at Montana State Billings on Saturday (7 p.m. MT).

The Viking women, 16-7, entertain Alaska Fairbanks on Thursday (7 p.m.) and Alaska Anchorage on Saturday (7 p.m.).