The Kirkwood women's basketball team is now all alone at the top of the national rankings, but the Eagles will face a stiff challenge Saturday.

The Eagles (10-1) climbed a notch from No.2 to No.1 in the NJCAA Division II rankings Wednesday. At the same time, NIACC (10-0) climbed from No.3 to No.2 in the rankings heading into their big showdown against each other Saturday afternoon in Mason City.

Kirkwood was not ranked when the season began, but the Eagles have already defeated three top-10 teams this season on their climb to the top.

Kirkwood and NIACC are rivals in the ICCAC.

TOP 20
1. Kirkwood (10-1), 2. NIACC (10-0), 3. Highland (15-0), 4. Owens (12-1), 5. Johnson County (12-0), 6. Illinois Central (7-2), 7. Kishwaukee (9-2), 8. Cape Fear (8-0), 9. Mesa (6-2), 10. Pima (6-5), 11. Kansas City (12-1), 12. Chesapeake (12-0), 13. Guilford Tech (8-1), 14. Iowa Central (9-2), 15. Kalamazoo Valley (7-2), 16. Lackawanna (10-0), 17. Dean (9-1), 18. Cincinnati State (5-2), 19. Catawba Valley (4-0), 20. Kankakee (6-3).