SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— The Drury Lady Panthers will start the season ranked 10th nationally in the NCAA-II coaches’ poll. The national poll, released by the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association, has Grand Valley State ranked number with nine first-place votes. Western Washington is second with seven first-place votes, while Fort Hays State is third. Defending national champion Glenville State received five first-place votes but is ranked eighth in the preseason.
The Lady Panthers won the Great Lakes Valley Conference for the sixth-straight year last season, reached the NCAA-II Tournament for the 19th time in 22 years, and ended the season 32-5. Head coach Amy Eagan, entering her third year at the helm at Drury, returns three starters and nine letter winners. First Team All-GLVC selection Alana Findley returns after averaging 14.4 points and 7.7 rebounds, along with Kaylee DaMitz-Holt, who put up 14 points per game to go with 3.1 assists. Terrion Moore was also a starter and all-conference selection last season and averaged 8.4 points and 2.3 steals.
While Drury is the only GLVC team in the top 25, several Lady Panthers opponents are nationally ranked to start the year. Drury will face fifth-ranked Ashland at home on Nov. 23 at 5:30 pm as part of the Oasis Hotel & Convention Center Thanksgiving Classic. Drury will also see number 11 Eckerd in Lakeland, Florida on Dec. 16.
The season’s first poll marks the 136th consecutive week the Lady Panthers have been ranked in the top 25, the longest such streak in the nation. It is also their 74th straight week to be ranked in the top 10.
Drury opens the 2022-23 season on Nov. 11 against Kentucky Wesleyan at the SBU Tipoff Classic in Bolivar. The Lady Panthers home opener is Nov. 19 against Emporia State
