FMU women just miss out on Top 25

FLORENCE Despite returning four starters from a Sweet Sixteen squad, Francis Marion University missed out on earning a preseason national ranking by just one point as the USA Today/ESPN Division II Women’s Basketball Top 25 Preseason Coaches’ Poll was released this week.
Francis Marion garnered 110 points, while 25th-ranked Grand Valley State University picked up 111 points.  Michigan Technological University, 27-7 last season, recorded 12 first-place votes and occupies the top spot in the preseason ranking.
The Patriot Women were 27-5 last season and ended the year ranked 14th nationally.  FMU won its second consecutive Peach Belt Conference regular-season championship, made the program’s second straight NCAA Tournament appearance, and led the nation in scoring offense for the second year in a row.
Francis Marion plays an exhibition game at Winthrop University on Saturday night at 7 p.m.  The Patriots will open their regular-season schedule on Nov. 15 at home against Converse College.

USA TODAY ESPN DIVISION II TOP 25 COACHES’ POLL

Rank     Institution - First Place Votes         ‘09 Rank   ‘09 Rcd     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 Univ., 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 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.