Statesmen Open Campaign at #25
Oskaloosa–The William Penn women’s basketball team has parlayed last year’s success into a solid early ranking as the NAIA released its preseason Division I top-25 poll Wednesday.
WPU, which was 30-3 last season (22-2 Heart), starts the 2019-2020 campaign at #25 with 54 points. It marks the eighth-straight poll in which the navy and gold have been ranked, dating back to last December.
The Statesmen are one of four programs ranked within the Heart of America Athletic Conference, including #12 Central Methodist, #14 MidAmerica Nazarene, and #19 Clarke.
Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) tops the poll, while Campbellsville (Ky.), Oklahoma City, The Master’s (Calif.), and Wayland Baptist (Texas) complete the top five.
William Penn begins 2019-2020 next Tuesday by hosting Tabor (Kan.) at 5:30 p.m.
NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball Preseason Rating – October 23, 2019
(Number in parentheses is first-place votes)
1. Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.)
2. Campbellsville (Ky.)
3. Oklahoma City
4. The Master’s (Calif.)
5. Wayland Baptist (Texas)
6. Our Lady of the Lake (Texas)
7. Carroll (Mont.)
8. Westmont (Calif.)
9. Columbia (Mo.)
12. Central Methodist (Mo.)
13. Talladega (Ala.)
14. MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.)
15. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.)
16. Bethel (Tenn.)
17. Providence (Mont.)
18. Rocky Mountain (Mont.)
19. Clarke
20. Lyon (Ark.)
21. Thomas More (Ky.)
22. Menlo (Calif.)
23. LSU Alexandria (La.)
24. Loyola (La.)
25. William Penn
Others Receiving Votes: Lewis-Clark (Idaho) 49, Xavier (La.) 43, Montana Western 31, Mid-America Christian (Okla.) 26, Georgetown (Ky.) 23, Science & Arts of Oklahoma 17, Pikeville (Ky.) 10, William Jessup (Calif.) 3.
