Complete Associated Press Poll - Courtesy CBS Sports

West Hartford, CT – After making their first ever appearance in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll a week ago, the Hartford women's basketball team slid up one position in the week 17 AP poll, moving into 23rd in the nation. The AP Poll is made up of 40 voters who represent different media outlets throughout the country who focus on the coverage of women's basketball.

Hartford has been ranked in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll for the last three weeks, making their first ever top-25 appearance in the coaches poll on February 8. The Hawks have been receiving votes in the AP top-25 since January 18 when they made their first appearance with three votes in the 10th week of the poll.

The women's team closed out the regular season in historic fashion winning their 18th straight game and putting up a perfect 16-0 record in conference play, just the sixth undefeated regular season in the 26 years of women's basketball in the America East. The 16 conference wins set a new school record as well as the 18th straight win extended an already broken school record.

The Hawks are the second America East team to earn AP recognition this season as the Vermont Catamounts spent one week as the 24th team in the weekly poll. Vermont's appearance in the AP Poll came on January 8.

Hartford will next play as the #1 seed in the upcoming America East Men's and Women's Basketball Championship presented by Newman's Own. The Hawks will play their first game in the tournament on Friday at 6:00 p.m. against the winner of the first round game between #8 Maine and #9 New Hampshire.