The Drury Lady Panthers are ranked seventh in the nation in the WBCA / NCAA-II preseason coaches’ poll.
Last year, Drury finished sixth in the final poll after going 30-4, 17-1 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference, and advancing to the NCAA-II Midwest Regional championship game.
Defending national champion Ashland is ranked number one, Virginia Union is ranked second and Harding, a team Drury will play on Dec. 5 in Searcy, Arkansas, is ranked third nationally.
The Lady Panthers are the only GLVC team in the preseason top 25. Lewis received votes but did not crack the poll.
Drury started their season with an exhibition win over Columbia (Mo.) 93-65 on Sunday and will play their second and final exhibition game of the year tomorrow at 6 p.m. against Lindenwood-Belleville in the O’Reilly Family Event Center. Lindenwood-Belleville is ranked 24th in NAIA Division I.
The Lady Panthers begin their regular season on Nov. 10 at Trevecca Nazarene in Nashville, Tennessee.
Season tickets for Drury basketball are on sale now and can be purchased at the O’Reilly Family Event Center box office or can be ordered by phone at (417) 873-6389.
Complete NCAA-II Top 25 Preseason Poll
| RANK | SCHOOL | POINTS | 2016-17 RECORD | 2016-17 FINAL | |
| 1 | Ashland (23) | 599 | 37-0 | 1 | |
| 2 | Virginia Union (1) | 566 | 28-5 | 2 | |
| 3 | Harding | 520 | 31-4 | 4 | |
| 4 | Alaska Anchorage | 506 | 30-2 | 10 | |
| 5 | Colorado State-Pueblo | 438 | 28-4 | 11 | |
| 6 | Bentley | 424 | 26-6 | 19 | |
| 7 | Drury | 408 | 30-4 | 6 | |
| 8 | Valdosta State | 396 | 22-10 | NR | |
| 9 | West Texas A&M | 387 | 26-9 | 15 | |
| 10 | California (PA) | 379 | 30-4 | 9 | |
| 11 | Emporia State | 308 | 29-5 | 8 | |
| 12 | Queens (NY) | 290 | 27-5 | 7 | |
| 13 | Central Missouri | 287 | 24-7 | 22 | |
| 14 | Wingate | 272 | 26-6 | 24 | |
| 15 | Lander | 236 | 25-8 | NR | |
| 16 | Azusa Pacific | 206 | 16-14 | NR | |
| 17 | Rollins | 194 | 22-8 | NR | |
| 18 | West Florida | 162 | 28-7 | 12 | |
| 19 | Minnesota State Moorhead | 156 | 24-5 | 21 | |
| 20 | Indiana (PA) | 144 | 24-7 | NR | |
| 21 | Michigan Tech | 128 | 20-8 | NR | |
| 22 | Fort Lewis | 102 | 21-7 | NR | |
| 23 | University of the Sciences | 96 | 27-6 | NR | |
| 24 | Lincoln Memorial | 65 | 28-5 | 13 | |
| 25 | Benedict | 62 | 21-8 | NR |
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.
