Newberry Women’s Basketball Team Ranked 24th In USA Today/ESPN Preseason Poll

LILBURN, Ga. - The Newberry College women's basketball team is ranked No. 24 nationally in the USA TODAY/ESPN Division II Preseason Coaches' Poll, which was released today. This is the first time the Lady Indians have been in the top 25 in the coaches' poll.

Newberry is the only South Atlantic Conference team in the top 25 and Carson-Newman College is also receiving votes. The Lady Indians are also the highest-ranked team in the state of South Carolina.

The Lady Indians are coming off of a 24-7 season that saw them win their second consecutive Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament championships and three straight NCAA Tournament appearances.

"Being recognized by our peers in the coaches poll is one of the highest honors our program could receive," said head coach Jason Brink. "One of our team goals is to consistently compete at the national level. Now we must physically and mentally ready ourselves for a challenging season."

The season begins on November 16 and 17 at the Queen City Classic at Queens University in Charlotte, N.C. The Lady Indians will face off against Queens and Johnson C. Smith.

More information on the poll can be found here.

USA TODAY ESPN Division II Top 25 Coaches' Poll
Preseason Poll: October 31, 2007

Rk Institution - First Place Votes LY Rec. Pts.
1 Univ. of North Dakota - 12 5 32-4 651
2 Southern Connecticut St. Univ. - 12 1 34-2 628
3 Emporia St. Univ. - 1 18 22-8 551
4 West Texas A&M Univ. 11 29-5 536
5 Delta St. Univ. - 2 7 30-4 496
6 Washburn Univ. 8 28-4 491
7T Bentley College 19 23-8 467
7T Clayton St. Univ. -1 4 29-6 467
9 Drury Univ. 16 25-9 450
10 Univ. of California - San Diego 3 27-5 340
11 Valdosta St. Univ. 15 24-8 321
12 Texas A&M Univ.-Commerce 13 28-9 310
13 Shaw Univ. NR 18-10 283
14 Univ. of Alaska Anchorage NR 23-6 240
15 California St. Univ., Chico 10 24-5 237
16 Indiana Univ. (Pa.) NR 24-9 205
17 Missouri Western St. 9 30-4 162
18 Northern Kentucky Univ. NR 21-8 143
19 Grand Valley St. Univ. NR 21-8 139
20 Gannon Univ. NR 25-6 132
21 Glenville St. College 6 33-3 128
22 Augustana College (S.D.) 20 25-7 122
23 Lewis Univ. 12 28-3 121
24 Newberry College NR 24-7 119
25 Florida Institute of Technology NR 23-7 115