Lady Buffs No. 7 in USA Today ESPN Division II Preseason Poll

WT to face four preseason Top 25 teams in 2010-11

LILBURN, Ga. - The West Texas A&M Lady Buff Basketball team has been tabbed to open the season at No. 7 in the USA Today ESPN Division II Coaches Preseason Poll, according to a release from the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association on Wednesday.

WTAMU went 30-4 last season, claiming its third consecutive Lone Star Conference Tournament Championship and advancing to the school’s seventh consecutive NCAA Division II South Central Regional Tournament. The Lady Buffs finished the season ranked No. 12 in the final poll released by the WBCA.

Arkansas Tech will open the 2010-11 season ranked No. 1 after receiving 15 first-place votes for a total of 671 points. Delta State claims the No. 2 spot with four first-place nods and a total of 621 points. The Lady Buffs, who received 460 points in the poll, will play both of these teams in late December with both games to be played on the road.

Tusculum College garnered two first-place nods for 569 points and will open the season at No. 3 in the poll, while Lander University follows at No. 4 with a first-place vote and 516 points. Holy Family collected 478 total points to round out the top five.

Last season’s national champions, Emporia State, gathered the final six first-place votes and will open the season at No. 6, just ahead of the Lady Buffs.

Along with Emporia and the Lady Buffs, other South Central Region teams earning preseason nods in the poll were Washburn at No. 9, Drury at No. 16 and LSC North Division foe, Northeastern State coming in at No. 22.

Four other regional and LSC teams received votes, including St. Mary’s (26), Tarleton (15), Central Oklahoma (3) and Southeastern Oklahoma (1).

The Lady Buffs have four preseason Top 25 opponents on the upcoming 2010-11 schedule. Along with the afore mentioned Arkansas Tech and Delta State, WT will travel to face No. 12-ranked Fort Lewis in Durango, Colo., on Nov. 20, and will then face the RiverHawks in LSC Crossover action on Dec. 20, at First United Bank Center.

The Lady Buffs will tip-off the 2010-11 season at the St. Mary’s Classic in San Antonio on Saturday, Nov. 13, against the host Rattlers. WT will conclude the tournament that Sunday, Nov. 14, against Central Missouri.