The Evangel University women’s basketball team was picked to finish ninth in the Heart of America Athletic Conference Coaches’ Preseason Poll released Wednesday.
The Crusaders earned 79 points and were tabbed ninth by the league coaches while defending national champion MidAmerica Nazarene earned nine first-place votes and was picked first with 163 total points. Reigning regular season champion Central Methodist received four first-place votes and was picked second earning a total of 151 points.
Baker earned the final first-place vote and was picked third as coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams. Benedictine was tabbed fourth with Grand View rounding out the top five in the poll. Culver-Stockton earned 98 points and was selected sixth while Missouri Valley and William Penn both tied for seventh in the vote.
The 2016-17 season tips off next week for the Crusaders who head to Arkansas-Fort Smith for their only exhibition game of the season. Evangel will open the season next Saturday at home against Haskell at 7 p.m. inside the Ashcroft Center.
The Crusaders are coming off a disappointing 9-19 season that saw injuries curtail a promising start to the year. Six seniors will help lead Evangel as they return their top three leading scorers from last season.
The opening round of the first-ever 26-game conference schedule will send all 14 teams to the court on Saturday, November 12. The top 10 finishers will qualify for the Heart Women’s Basketball tournament with seeds, 7-10 playing first round games on Monday, February 27 at campus sites. The championship game will be played at the highest remaining seed one week later on Monday, March 6.
The 37th Annual Division I Women’s Basketball Championship will be played March 15-21, 2017 at Rimrock Auto Arena at MetraPark in Billings, Montana.
2016-17 Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. MidAmerica Nazarene (9)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 163
2. Central Methodist (4)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 151
3. Baker (1)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 146
4. Benedictine                                      144
5. Grand View                                      103
6. Culver-Stockton                                98
T7. Missouri Valley                               94
T7. William Penn                                   94
9. Evangel                                           78
T10. Clarke                                           56
T10. Mount Mercy                                 56
12. Avila                                              37
13. Peru State                                      35
14. Graceland                                       19
