Complete Women's Division II Bulletin Preseason Poll
One year after winning 24 games and reaching
the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament, the IUP women’s basketball team has
been ranked 11th in the Women’s Division II Bulletin 2007-08
preseason poll.
The
Crimson Hawks are the highest ranked team from the East Region, with only
California at No. 23 also earning a spot in the Top 25. This is the third
time that IUP has been ranked among the nation’s elite prior to the start of
the season, joining the 1999-00 team (14th) and the 2000-01 squad
(24th).
IUP opens its season by playing in Disney’s
Division II Tip-Off Classic November 2-4 in Orlando, Fla. The Crimson Hawks
will face Assumption, Lander and Upper Iowa in its three games at the
tournament.
North Dakota, playing its final season as a
Division II school, opens the season at No. 1, followed by defending
national champion Southern Connecticut. Emporia State, West Texas A&M and
Drury round out the preseason top five.
“After the success we experienced last season,
we are excited about the potential of this year’s team,” said IUP head coach
Cindy Martin. “At the same time, our staff is not concerned about
rankings right now. What matters to our team is finishing No. 1 next
March.”
This year’s preseason ranking is based largely
on four returning starters from a team that went 24-9, won its first PSAC
championship since 1988 and took powerful Glenville State to the wire in a
six-point loss in the East Region championship game.
Leading the returning starters is All-America
candidate Jahzinga Tracey, who enjoyed a highly decorated sophomore season,
including selection as the PSAC West Player of the Year, first team
Daktronics All-East Region, MVP of the PSAC tournament and a spot on the
East Region all-tournament team.
Forward
Staci Heberling, a second team All-PSAC West choice last year, and guards
Kylie Miller (right) and Kierstin Filla also return from last year’s
starting lineup.
The Crimson Hawks have not been ranked since
November 29, 2000 when the team came in at No. 25 before dropping out the
following week. The Crimson Hawks barely missed out on the final Top 25 a
year ago, garnering 61 points in the poll taken after the Elite Eight, 10
points shy of a national ranking.
During the 1999-00 season, one year after the
team’s lone appearance in the Elite Eight, IUP was ranked in every national
poll, reaching as high as fourth on January 26, 2000 when the team won its
first 17 games en route to a final record of 24-5 and a berth in the East
Region semifinals.
