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The women's basketball team of Florida Gulf Coast University made history late Tuesday afternoon when it was announced that the Eagles are the top-rated Division II team in the country, according to the USA Today/ESPN/WBCA D-II Top 25 Coaches Poll.

It is the first time for an FGCU program to be ranked No. 1 nationally.

An independent, undefeated FGCU was fourth-ranked in last week's poll, behind the University of North Dakota, Missouri Western State and Southern Connecticut.

But after last week's poll was released, North Dakota lost at St. Cloud State (66-61), Missouri Western State lost against Emporia State (83-63) and Southern Connecticut was upset by Saint Rose (57-53) while the Eagles slammed Puerto Rico-Cayey, 105-14, on the road Friday night.

FGCU received 18 first-place votes and is followed in this week's poll by North Dakota (23-2) with three first-place votes, Missouri Western State (21-4) with four first-place nods, Washburn University (19-2) with one first-place vote and Southern Connecticut (20-1) with one first-place vote. No. 7 Lewis (Ill.) University (19-2) received the other first-place vote.

FGCU (22-0) has blitzed opponents by an average score of 84.2-44.5. Only two FGCU wins have been in single digits.

"I think it's an honor to be voted into this situation, it means a lot of programs from around the country have a lot of respect for yours," said FGCU coach Karl Smesko.

"That's great for FGCU and Southwest Florida as a whole," said FGCU athletic director Carl McAloose. "Coach Smesko has done a great job and is finally being recognized for it. The school's excited about it but I'm sure Karl will tell you what matters is winning the last game. But it's certainly nice to be recognized as the No. 1 team in the country."

Smesko said he voted Missouri Western State No. 1 after its loss against 11th-ranked Emporia State.

"We deserve to be proud of receiving the ranking but championships are determined on the floor," Smesko said. "We have to prepare like we have a lot of people to catch."

The top ranking is particularly impressive considering FGCU's independent status.

"I don't know if any independent has ever been No. 1 before," Smesko said. "A lot of times people vote for teams within their conference and region that they are most familiar with. To do it as an independent, hopefully, that means we have done things in the right way and people respect what we're doing."

If FGCU finishes the season unbeaten, it will host the South Regional March 10, 11 and 12. Smesko and McAloose hope the Eagles' stature as No. 1 will help fill Alico Arena with the curious as well as faithful.

"I hope so," Smesko said. "We've had some really good crowds lately and they've been really vocal and supportive. If being No. 1 helps bring more people to the games, that's great."

Said McAloose: "I think a lot of people would just be curious to see how good they are. I think it would perk my interest as a basketball fan and saw the No. 1 basketball team in the country was playing in my own backyard. And they have an opportunity to come and see them for $6. Hopefully, it will get them out to the game to watch these ladies play.

"We had some athletics directors up here at a meeting (recently) and one asked the other if he had seen us play, and he said, 'No.' He said, 'They're a 3-point shooting machine!'

"And that's neat when other people are talking about us."

The flip side to the top ranking is Smesko's job of keeping his players on an even keel got more difficult. As will the efforts of FGCU opponents.

"We try," Smesko said. "It's not easy.

"And definitely, the sign of the bull's-eye got a little bit bigger. People are gunning for you whenever you are one of the better teams, but it seems like there's always a little extra something when it's the No. 1 team."