The Virginia Union University women's basketball team will enter the 2017-18 season as the second-ranked team in the nation, according to the first Women's Basketball Coaches Association Poll, released on Tuesday, October 31.
The Lady Panthers, who finished 2016-17 as the #2 team, is second only to defending national champion Ashland University. Ashland received 23 of 24 first-place votes, the remaining first-place vote went to VUU.
Virginia Union finished the 2016-17 season with a 28-5 record, and returns Pre-Season All-CIAA Selections Alexis Johnson and Jayda Luckie.
The Lady Panthers tip off the 2017-18 season with an exhibition game against Louisburg College at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, November 6, in Barco-Stevens Hall in Richmond, Va.
Â
|
Rank
|
School
|
Points
|
1st-placeÂ
votes
|
2016-17
Rank
|
|
1
|
Ashland (37-0)
|
599
|
23
|
1
|
|
2
|
Virginia Union (28-5)
|
566
|
1
|
2
|
|
3
|
Harding (31-4)
|
520
|
0
|
4
|
|
4
|
Alaska Anchorage (30-2)
|
506
|
0
|
10
|
|
5
|
Colorado State-Pueblo (28-4)
|
438
|
0
|
11
|
|
6
|
Bentley (26-6)
|
424
|
0
|
19
|
|
7
|
Drury (30-4)
|
408
|
0
|
6
|
|
8
|
Valdosta State (22-10)
|
396
|
0
|
NR
|
|
9
|
West Texas A&M (26-9)
|
387
|
0
|
15
|
|
10
|
California (PA) (30-4)
|
379
|
0
|
9
|
|
11
|
Emporia State (29-5)
|
308
|
0
|
8
|
|
12
|
Queens (NY) (27-5)
|
290
|
0
|
7
|
|
13
|
Central Missouri (24-7)
|
287
|
0
|
22
|
|
14
|
Wingate (26-6)
|
272
|
0
|
24
|
|
15
|
Lander (25-8)
|
236
|
0
|
NR
|
|
16
|
Azusa Pacific (16-14)
|
206
|
0
|
NR
|
|
17
|
Rollins (22-8)
|
194
|
0
|
NR
|
|
18
|
West Florida (28-7)
|
162
|
0
|
12
|
|
19
|
Minnesota State Moorhead (24-5)
|
156
|
0
|
21
|
|
20
|
Indiana (PA) (24-7)
|
144
|
0
|
NR
|
|
21
|
Michigan Tech (20-8)
|
128
|
0
|
NR
|
|
22
|
Fort Lewis (21-7)
|
102
|
0
|
NR
|
|
23
|
University of the Sciences (27-6)
|
96
|
0
|
NR
|
|
24
|
Lincoln Memorial (28-5)
|
65
|
0
|
13
|
|
25
|
Benedict (21-8)
|
62
|
0
|
NR
|
Dropped out:Â No. 3 California Baptist (35-3), No. 5 Columbus State (31-2), No. 14 Adelphi (27-5), No. 16 Pittsburg State (25-6), No. 17 Eckerd (27-5), No. 18 Western Washington (26-6), No. 20 Angelo State (26-6), No. 23 Simon Fraser (26-8), No. 25 Central Oklahoma (25-8).Â
Others receiving votes:Â 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
