By Karen Allen

ROME--The latest NCCAA national rankings are out, and Lady Hawks' basketball comes in at No. 10. Shorter, who earned a fifth place preseason ranking, had fallen out of the top ten after a slow start to the season. Currently the Lady Hawks hold a 4-7 overall record and a 2-3 conference mark.

Also included in the rankings are fellow Gulf South Conference foes, Lee and Union. The Lady Flames topped the list at No. 1, and the Lady Bulldogs came in at No. 3.

Looking to turn their luck around, Shorter is in for a tough test Thursday evening as they play host to an Alabama Huntsville (7-4, 2-3) team that is averaging 98.4 points per game while holding opponents to 72.3. The Lady Chargers, too, will be looking to turn things around as they've dropped the last three contests to conference opponents, most recently an 89-81 decision to Valdosta State.

The Lady Hawks have four players averaging double figures on the season. Both, Ieshia Alexander and Karisma Boykin, enter Thursday night averaging 13.3 points per contest; while Lynette Harris and Kristin Nash are averaging 10.4 and 10.0 points, respectively.

Jordan Smith is pacing the Lady Chargers with 23.7 points per game which leads the GSC; Jasmine Hammon comes in with a 19.3 average, and Shannon Steinert 10.5.

Alabama Huntsville enters the contest tallying 52.2 rebounds per game, while Shorter posts a 34.9 average. Both teams shoot well from the line; the Lady Chargers 75% and the Lady Hawks 64%.

Tipoff is set for 6:00pm in the Winthrop-King Centre on the campus of Shorter University. Fans unable to attend the game can follow all the action at www.goshorterhawks.com or listen live on 95.7FM The Ridge.