November 1, 2017-The Emporia State Lady Hornets will begin the 2017-18 season in a familiar place, in the top 25 of the WBCA NCAA Division II Preseason National Rankings. At #11 the Lady Hornets open the season as the highest ranked MIAA team out of four conference schools receiving votes in the poll.
This is the 273rd time the Lady Hornets have been ranked in the top 25 since first appearing in the 1997-98 Preseason Poll. Their 191 weeks in the top ten are the most by any Division II team in history.
Emporia State is one of four MIAA teams and eight teams from the Central Region to receive votes in the WBCA Preseason Poll. Central Missouri is the only other MIAA team in the Top 25, coming in at #13, while Pittsburg State and Central Oklahoma both received votes. Harding, who defeated the Lady Hornets 58-56 in last year's regional championship game in Searcy, Ark. are ranked third. Minnesota State-Moorhead, who was eliminated in the regional quarterfinals by Central Missouri is ranked 19th to enter this season.
The Lady Hornets have won 20 games in 14 consecutive seasons, the longest active streak in the nation and their streak of 21 straight winning seasons is the longest active streak in the MIAA. They have made the NCAA Tournament 19 times in the last 21 years and their 40-17 record in the tourney is ranked fourth among active Division II schools in total tournament wins. Emporia State has made six Elite Eight trips, the most of any team since 1997. The Lady Hornets won their first national championship in 2010, 12 years after making their first appearance in the national title game and have advanced to four Final Fours since 1998.
Emporia State has one more exhibition game against Kansas State on Friday, November 3 in Manhattan, Kan. before opening the regular season on November 10 against Southwestern Oklahoma in Joplin, Mo. The Lady Bulldogs are receiving votes in the WBCA Poll as well.
2017-18 Women's Basketball Coaches Association
Preseason Poll
Rank Team   17-18 record   Pts   17-18 Rank
1Â Â Â Ashland (23)Â Â Â 37-0Â Â Â 599Â Â Â 1
2Â Â Â Virginia Union (1)Â Â Â 28-5Â Â Â 566Â Â Â 2
3   Harding    31-4   520   4
4   Alaska Anchorage    30-2   506   10
5   Colorado State-Pueblo    28-4   438   11
6   Bentley    26-6   424   19
7   Drury    30-4   408   6
8   Valdosta State    22-10   396   NR
9Â Â Â West Texas A&M Â Â Â 26-9Â Â Â 387Â Â Â 15
10Â Â Â California (PA) Â Â Â 30-4Â Â Â 379Â Â Â 9
11Â Â Â EMPORIA STATE Â Â Â 29-5Â Â Â 308Â Â Â 8
12Â Â Â Queens (NY) Â Â Â 27-5Â Â Â 290Â Â Â 7
13   Central Missouri    24-7   287   22
14   Wingate    26-6   272   24
15   Lander    25-8   236   NR
16   Azusa Pacific    16-14   206   NR
17   Rollins    22-8   194   NR
18   West Florida    28-7   162   12
19   Minnesota State Moorhead    24-5   156   21
20Â Â Â Indiana (PA) Â Â Â 24-7Â Â Â 144Â Â Â NR
21   Michigan Tech    20-8   128   NR
22   Fort Lewis    21-7   102   NR
23   University of the Sciences    27-6   96   NR
24   Lincoln Memorial    28-5   65   13
25   Benedict    21-8   62   NR
Others receiving votes: Pittsburg State (25-6) 54; Northern State (24-7) 46; Limestone (27-5) 43; Lubbock Christian (19-11) 36; Eckerd (27-5) 28; Cal State East Bay (22-9) 26; Johnson C Smith (22-8) 25; Seattle Pacific (19-11) 23; Adelphi (27-5) 22; Angelo State (26-6) 21; Lewis (23-9) 18;
Central Oklahoma (25-8) 16; Southwestern Oklahoma State (20-10) 10; Glenville State (24-6) 9; Tampa (17-11) 8; Point Loma Nazarene (24-6) 4; American International (19-10) 3.
15 teams mentioned on only one ballot for a total of 77 combined points.
Â
