Thursday, October 31, 2013

PORTLAND, Ore. – A pair of Great Northwest Athletic Conference schools were ranked in the USA Today Sports Division II Top 25 women’s basketball poll, released earlier this week, while three others earned mention in the ‘others receiving votes’ category. 

Checking in at No. 6 and receiving 477 points – including one first place vote – in the poll, was Western Washington, notching the Vikings as the highest-ranked GNAC team a season after making it to the Division II Final Four.

Also ranked in the top-25 was Simon Fraser, which received 210 points and was tied with Lewis University (Ill.) for No. 18 on the list.

Montana State Billings, picked by the GNAC coaches as the preseason favorite, was listed amongst other schools receiving votes as the Yellowjackets received 45 points in the poll.

Checking in right behind MSU Billings with 39 votes was Seattle Pacific, and Northwest Nazarene received a single vote and represented the fifth GNAC school appearing in the poll.

A total of 33 Division II head coaches make up the voting panel for the USA Today poll, including WWU’s coach Carmen Dolfo who serves as the non-voting chair of the group.

MSU Billings head coach Kevin Woodin is the other GNAC coach represented on the panel.

EXHIBITION MATCHUPS UNDERWAY

GNAC schools have already begun their preseason schedules, with some gaining valuable experience taking on Division I programs in exhibition matches. Alaska Anchorage is on the road to challenge Kansas State, while Simon Fraser will head south to challenge Portland State this weekend. Saint Martin’s will also face Division I competition, as it heads to Corvallis to challenge Oregon State.

Montana State Billings, the preseason favorite, kept pace with Division I University of Montana earlier this week, falling by just four points, 69-65. The Yellowjackets challenge Billings rival Rocky Mountain College on Monday.

Preseason play heats up next weekend, with seven games each on Nov. 8 and 9 that will count towards teams’ 2013-14 overall records.