NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Poll Ranks Hillcats No. 8

Senior Leah Smith (photo by Dean Atchison).

CLAREMORE, Okla. – After a quarterfinal finish a season ago the Rogers State women’s basketball team will begin the season ranked No. 8 according to the 2012-13 NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Preseason Top 25 Poll released Tuesday evening by the national office.

RSU finished last season ranked No. 21 after compiling a 22-12 record including a fourth place finish in the Sooner Athletic Conference with a record of 14-8 in conference play. This season the Cats are projected to finish second in the conference according to the preseason coaches’ poll released earlier this month.

Five seniors return from last year’s squad including NAIA All-American Sierra Cornwell, after setting a school single season record for steals with 117. Claremore, Okla. native Logan Froese returns for her fourth season on the Hill and was an NAIA All-Tournament Second Team selection a year ago. Joining Leah Smith, Ariani Silva and Rician Walker in the senior class is transfer Kelby Fritz from Missouri Southern State. The senior point guard gives first year Hillcat head coach Roxanne Long even more experience to what is already a squad full of upperclassmen.

SAC favorite Lubbock Christian claimed the No. 1 spot in the preseason poll as the Lady Chaparrals received nine of the 11 first place votes. Defending national champions Oklahoma City ranks No. 10 in the preseason poll as just three SAC schools ranked in the top 25.

To view the complete NAIA Division I Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Preseason Top 25 Poll click here.

Rogers State opens the season in an exhibition contest versus the University of Tulsa at the Donald W. Reynolds Center on Wednesday, Oct. 31st at 7 p.m. The game will be carried live on RSU Radio 91.3FM and online at www.rsuhillcats.com/live.