ST. PAUL, Minn. - The Concordia University women's basketball team received 22 points in the USA Today ESPN Division II Top 25 Coaches' Poll, released today by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). The Golden Bears were the top point receivers in the NSIC behind #6 Minnesota State, who was the only league team ranked in the top 25 of the poll.
The Golden Bears take the preseason poll points as further recognition of their potential for the upcoming 2009-10 season. The team has been picked to finish second in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC) in the NSIC preseason poll, also falling in behind Minnesota State. The squad has a fresh look this season with many new faces and an influx of speed, talent and experience.
Concordia will look to climb into the national polls with the season starting up in a matter of weeks. Behind head coach Paul Fessler, the program has spent plenty of time among the top 25 in the nation, but has not been ranked in the national poll since the 2007-08 season. That year, they reached as high as a #5 ranking and finished the year at #14 on the final poll.
Golden Bear fans can get their first look at the team this weekend's exhibition game against St. Thomas. The squad will run the floor of the Gangelhoff Center on Saturday evening at 7:30.
|
Rank |
Institution - First Place Votes |
Last Year's Final Rank |
Last Year's Final Record |
Points |
|
1. |
Michigan Technological University - 12 |
8 |
27-7 |
563 |
|
2. |
Franklin Pierce University (N.H.) - 3 |
2 |
29-6 |
552 |
|
3. |
California University of Pennsylvania |
4 |
29-5 |
486 |
|
4. |
Delta State University (Miss.) - 1 |
6 |
30-7 |
483 |
|
5. |
Fort Lewis College (Colo.) - 2 |
9 |
28-3 |
478 |
|
6. |
Minnesota State University, Mankato - 8 |
1 |
32-2 |
448 |
|
7. |
Emporia State University (Kan.) |
17 |
26-6 |
409 |
|
8. |
University of Alaska - Anchorage |
3 |
31-4 |
383 |
|
9. |
Stonehill College (Mass.) |
22 |
22-8 |
370 |
|
10. |
West Texas A&M University |
5 |
28-6 |
341 |
|
11. |
University of Indianapolis (Ind.) |
24 |
24-10 |
328 |
|
12. |
University of Central Oklahoma |
12 |
23-5 |
297 |
|
13. |
Clayton State University (Ga.) |
11 |
26-7 |
292 |
|
14. |
University of California - San Diego |
16 |
27-5 |
287 |
|
15. |
Northern Kentucky University |
10 |
29-3 |
270 |
|
16. |
Seattle Pacific University (Wash.) |
7 |
23-4 |
216 |
|
17. |
Holy Family University (Pa.) |
NR |
26-6 |
189 |
|
18. |
Washburn University (Kan.) |
13 |
27-5 |
180 |
|
19. |
Gannon University (Pa.) |
20 |
30-4 |
170 |
|
20. |
Lenoir-Rhyne University (N.C.) |
23 |
27-5 |
148 |
|
21. |
Indiana University of Pennsylvania |
19 |
26-6 |
143 |
|
22. |
University of Tampa (Fla.) |
NR |
26-6 |
141 |
|
23. |
Hillsdale College (Mich.) |
15 |
27-4 |
139 |
|
24. |
Quincy University (Ill.) |
18 |
27-5 |
120 |
|
25. |
Grand Valley State University (Mich.) |
NR |
20-10 |
111 |
Others Receiving Votes: Francis Marion University (S.C.) - 110; Valdosta State University (Ga.) - 75; Shaw University (N.C.) - 63; Drury University (Mo.) - 56; Philadelphia University (Pa.) - 47; Bentley University (Mass.) - 41; Tusculum College (Tenn.) - 40; Fort Valley State University (Ga.) - 37; Lander University (S.C.) - 36; Ouachita Baptist University (Ark.) - 32; University of District of Columbia - 32; Millersville University of Pennsylvania - 31; Johnson C. Smith University (N.C.) - 26; Northwood University (Mich.) - 24; Concordia University, St. Paul (Minn.) - 22; American International College (Mass.) - 21; Augustana College (Ill.) - 21; Columbus State University (Ga.) - 19; Rollins College (Fla.) - 18; West Liberty State College (W. Va.) - 18; University of the Incarnate Word (Texas) - 16; Arkansas Tech University - 15; Georgia College & State University - 14; University of Arkansas- Monticello - 12; Barton College (N.C.) - 10; Carson-Newman College (Tenn.) - 7; University of New Haven (Conn.) - 7; University of South Carolina - Aiken 7; University of Wisconsin - Parkside - 6; Fairmont State University (W. Va.) - 5; Winona State University (Minn.) - 5; Dowling College (N.Y.) - 4; University of West Georgia - 4; Pittsburg State University (Kan.) - 3; Queens College (N.Y.) - 3; Seton Hill University (Pa.) - 3; Virginia State University - 3; California State Polytechnic University - Pomona - 2; Molloy College (N.Y.) - 2; Nova Southeastern University (Fla.) - 2; Wingate University (N.C.) - 2; Abilene Christian University (Texas) - 1; Bowie State University (Md.) - 1; Lewis University (Ill.) - 1; Minnesota State University, Moorhead - 1; Saint Mary's University (Texas) - 1.
