LILBURN, Ga. - After closing the 2014-15 season slotted No. 24 in the final Women's Basketball Coaches Association Poll, Anderson University women's basketball was positioned in the No. 22 spot in the Preseason WBCA Poll, announced by the Association on Tuesday.
The Trojans made their first appearance in the WBCA Poll in the final week of the 2014-15 season after claiming a 71-53 victory over No. 3 ranked Columbus State in the Round-of-32 of the NCAA Tournament, advancing to the Sweet 16 for the second time in program history. Seeing its tournament run come to an end in the next round to eventual Final Four participant, Limestone, the Trojans were ranked 24th in the final WBCA national poll marking the first time AU was nationally ranked in the top-25 since the beginning the 2008-09 season when it was also positioned 24th.
Within the 2015-16 WBCA Preseason Poll, Anderson is the lone representative from the South Atlantic Conference and one of three teams from the Southeast Region in the top 25. Columbus State earned the No. 6 spot after closing the year with a 31-2 overall record, while Limestone landed 12th following its Final Four appearance. Outside the top 25, Lander was the only regional opponent that was receiving votes.
The preseason recognition continues for the Black and Gold, as they were named a Division II Bulletin "Team to Watch" in early October, while also being picked by the league's coaches to defend their SAC title in the annual Preseason SAC Coaches' Poll. In addition to the conference's preseason poll, standouts Jasmine Franklin and Alexis Dillard were named to the preseason all-conference teams, as Franklin landed on the first team while Dillard claimed a spot on the second team.
The Trojans begin the 2015-16 season on Sunday when it welcomes Division I Clemson to the Abney Athletic Center for an exhibition. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m.
