Anchorage Daily News

The UAA women's basketball team, which ended its last two seasons with trips to the NCAA Division II Final Four, is ranked eighth in the nation heading into the new season.

The Seawolves are the highest ranked West Region team in the USA Today/ESPN Division II's Top 25. Elsewhere in the West, UC-San Diego is No. 14 and Seattle Pacific is No. 16.

UAA is coming off a program-best 31-4 season. The Seawolves are among seven teams in the Top 10 that made it to last season's Elite Eight, including top-ranked Michigan Tech.

Defending champion Minnesota State, which defeated UAA in the semifinals last season, is ranked sixth.

UAA has been ranked in the top 10 in 21 consecutive polls, a streak that saw the Seawolves in the No. 1 spot for four weeks last season.

The Seawolves take on a Division I powerhouse Sunday when they open the season with an exhibition game at Duke University. The Blue Devils are ranked sixth among D-I schools.

USA Today/ESPN Division II

Preseason poll

Top 10 -- 1) Michigan Tech; 2) Franklin Pierce; 3) California (Pa.); 4) Delta State; 5) Fort Lewis; 6) Minnesota State; 7) Emporia State; 8) UAA; 9) Stonehill; 10) West Texas A&M.

ADVERTISEMENT