William Penn Begins Year Receiving Votes
William Penn Women's Athletics
Oskaloosa–For the second year in a row, the Lady Statesmen basketball team will open its hardwood campaign as one of the more-touted programs in the NAIA as the Division II preseason poll was released Monday.
William Penn, who was 23-10 last year (12-4 MCC), is unofficially 34th with 20 votes. The program, which reached last year’s MCC Tourney final, was tied for 38th in last year’s preseason rating.
Two-time defending national champion Northwestern is a secure #1, receiving 374 points with 13 of the 14 first-place votes. #19 Indiana-Northwest collected the other first-place nod.
Morningside, Indiana Wesleyan, Kansas Wesleyan, and Briar Cliff round out the top five.
St. Ambrose heads a class of five from the Midwest Collegiate Conference as the Queen Bees are #10. Grand View is #20, while Mount Mercy is 25th. Iowa Wesleyan is also receiving one vote.
The state of Iowa is well represented with three of the top five teams (Northwestern, Morningside, Briar Cliff) all hailing from the Hawkeye State.
The aforementioned eight are joined by #31 Dordt.
Four of the Lady Statesmen’s non-conference opponents are ranked or receiving votes, including Morningside and #22 Concordia (Neb.). St. Mary (Neb.) is receiving seven votes and Mount Marty (S.D.) earned one vote.
William Penn opens its season Friday by hosting Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.) at 8 p.m.
