UDC FIREBIRDS BASKETBALL TEAM 5TH IN NCAA EAST REGION

Washington, DC—January 26, 2007--The NCAA has announced that the University of the District of Columbia Firebirds Basketball Team is ranked 5th in the East Region for the week of January 21, 2007. The top ten teams in each region are ranked for each of the eight regions.  The regional rankings will be released weekly on Wednesdays through February 28, 2007. 
 
This is the highest the Firebirds have been ranked since the 2003 season. The Firebirds are 10-6 overall after losing two close contests, the first to the nationally ranked, and perennial powerhouse, Virginia Union University Panthers (69-74) on January 18, and to the University of Pittsburgh-Johnstown Mountain Cats (70-71) on January 20th.

The Firebirds are led by junior guard Charlie Smallwood (Bowie, MD), who averages 15.9 points per game. UDC has eight games remaining in the regular season, and then will compete in the Independent Schools Tournament February 24-27, hosted by Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Florida.