KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The University of Providence women's basketball team is receiving votes in the latest NAIA National Poll that was released on Wednesday.

"I like where we're at," head coach Bill Himmelberg said. "There's some people ahead of us that we will be playing here shortly so I think we're in a good position right now."

After starting the season with a loss, the Argos (8-1) rattled off eight straight wins, including a four-game road sweep early in the season. The team won the first two games of another road trip this past weekend, before suffering their second loss of the season on Sunday to Puget Sound. 

"I think we would have moved up a little bit if we had taken business in that last game," Himmelberg said. "I'm a little disappointed that we couldn't get that one done. Sometimes you run into teams that are shooting it well."

Despite the loss, the coaching staff believes the team has been playing selfless ball. The team currently has four players averaging over 10 points a game: Parker Esary (15.1 ppg), Emilee Maldonado (15.0 ppg), Brooklyn Harn (12.4 ppg) and Reed Hazard (11.8) ppg. A fifth player, Maddy Dixon, is averaging 9.4.

"We're playing pretty well right now," Himmelberg said. "We're playing well right now and we're playing together. We still have things we can improve on and work on but you're not supposed to be playing your best basketball right now."

The team has spent the week in practicing preparing for Our Lady of the Lakes, who have played four-ranked teams on the season. The Saints (1-4) will play the Argos on Friday at 3:00 p.m. in the McLaughlin Center.

"It's a big game for us on Friday," Himmelberg said. "They're a National Powerhouse normally. They've had some close games with some of the top teams. We have to make sure that we come out and play well and get back on the winning track."