GOLDEN SUNS BASKETBALL NAMED AS ONE OF THE TEAMS TO WATCH IN PRESEASON WOMEN'S DIVISION II BULLETIN TOP 25 POLL

        BEAVERTON, Oregon – Arkansas Tech Women’s Basketball is listed as one of 15 teams to watch in this season’s Women’s NCAA Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25 Poll that was released on Wednesday.

The Women’s Division II Bulletin, which has been published since 1993, is the leading publication covering Division II women’s basketball in the country.

Tech, who returns two starters, including senior guard Ashley Chisum (Benton, Ark.), the team’s only three-year letterwinner, and three letterwinners from last season’s 19-9 team, was one of two Gulf South Conference schools mentioned in this year’s preseason poll and one of three schools ranked from the South Region.

In addition to Tech, four-time defending GSC Champion Delta State (30-7 last season) opens the 2009-10 season ranked third by the Women’s DII Bulletin. Tampa (26-6 last season), who is in the South Region with Tech and the other GSC schools, is ranked 17th in the preseason Women’s DII Bulletin Poll.

Michigan Tech, who advanced to the Elite Eight in 2008-09, opens the season as the No. 1 team as the Huskies finished with a 27-7 record last year and returns all five starters. Franklin Pierce (29-6 last season), the defending national runners-up, are ranked second and are followed by Delta State. The Lady Statesmen advanced to the Elite Eight for the second consecutive year in 2008-09. Indianapolis (24-10 last season) and California [PA] (29-5 last season) are ranked fourth and fifth respectively in the preseason poll.

The next five begins with Stonehill (22-9 last season) at No. 6 and the Skyhawks are followed by Emporia State (26-6 last season) at No. 7 and Fort Lewis College (28-4 last season) is ranked eighth. Holy Family (26-6 last season) and UC-San Diego (27-5 last season) complete the Top 10 at Nos. 9 and 10 respectively.

The next 10 begins with Central Oklahoma (23-5 last season), while defending NCAA D-II National Champion Minnesota State-Mankato (32-2 last season) opens the season ranked 12th and Grand Valley State (20-10 last season) is at No. 13. Alaska-Anchorage (31-4 last season) is ranked No. 14 and West Texas A&M (28-6 last season) is ranked 15th. Clayton State (26-7 last season) is at No. 16 and they are followed by Tampa at No. 17 and Northern Kentucky (29-3 last season) at No. 18. Indiana [PA] (26-6 last season) and Philadelphia (21-10 last season) round out the Top 20 at Nos. 19 and 20 respectively.

Gannon [PA] (30-4 last season) begins the final five at No. 21, while Lenoir-Rhyne (27-5 last season) is ranked 22nd and West Liberty State (24-7 last season) is at No. 23. Seattle Pacific (23-4 last season) and Columbus State (18-14 last season) round out the preseason poll at Nos. 24 and 25 respectively.

Joining Tech as other teams to watch in the Preseason Women’s DII Bulletin Poll were Barton, Bentley, Carson-Newman, Drury, Fayetteville State, Francis Marion, Humboldt State, Lander, Millersville, Molloy, Nebraska-Kearney, Northwood, Washburn and Winona State.

Tech, who opens preseason practice on Oct. 15, will open its two-game exhibition slate on Nov. 7 with a 7 p.m. game at Missouri State and then will play an exhibition game at home on Nov. 14 against the University of Ozarks at 2 p.m. The Golden Suns, the fourth all-time winningest NCAA Division II women’s basketball program with 788 victories, opens its 32nd season of competition on Monday, Nov. 16 at home against Central Baptist. Tip-off for the season opener is set for 5:30 p.m. at Tucker Coliseum.   

           -- Tech Athletics --