COLORADO SPRINGS, Co. - The NCC women's basketball team climbed from 8th to 5th in this week's Division III women's basketball national poll released today by the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA). 

The Spartans, who were ranked as high as second this season, defeated 5th ranked Passaic County Community College, 58-56, on the road to climb three spots.  Passaic fell from 5th to 8th with the loss.

NCC, 6-2 overall and 2-0 in Region XIX, travel to Gloucester County College on Thursday night to face the Lady Roadrunners. 

Region XIX placed five teams in the national rankings, the most of any region in the country, led by Northampton (5), Passaic (8), Bergen (RV), Brookdale (RV) and Ocean County College (RV).