ERIE, Pa. - The Gannon women’s basketball team is ranked 19th in the
USA Today ESPN Division II Preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll released Wednesday afternoon. The Lady Knights were tabbed 21st in the
Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25 released October 12.
Michigan Tech is the preseason No. 1, receiving 12 first-place votes and 563 points. The Huskies return all five starters from last year’s 27-7 Elite Eight squad. Franklin Pierce (552), California (Pa.) (486), Delta State (Miss.) (483) and Fort Lewis (Colo.) (478) completed the top five.
Minnesota State-Mankato (448), Emporia State (Kan.) (409), Alaska-Anchorage (383), Stonehill (Mass.) (370) and West Texas A&M (341) rounded out the top 10.
Head coach Cleve Wright’s squad is one of three Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) teams listed in the top 25. California (Pa.) is ranked third while Indiana (Pa.) is 21st. Millersville is listed among receiving votes.
The University of District of Columbia, Johnson C. Smith (N.C.), West Liberty State (W.Va.), Fairmont State (W.Va.), Seton Hill (Pa.), Virginia State and Bowie State (Md.) were other Atlantic region programs receiving votes, but did not appear in the top 25.
Gannon returns four starters and 10 letterwinners from last year’s 26-5 team that advanced to the NCAA Division II Sweet Sixteen for the first time in school history. The Lady Knights tied the school record for victories last season and finished 12-2 in the PSAC Western Division. In addition, the team won four games against nationally-ranked opponents and was ranked 20th in the final
USA Today ESPN Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll.
For the complete
USA Today ESPN Division II Preseason Top 25 Coaches Poll, please
click here.