LILBURN, GA -- Courtesy MTU

The Michigan Tech women’s basketball team will be a unanimous national preseason No. 1 when it opens its season Nov. 15. The Huskies, who were already tabbed as the national preseason favorite by Division II Bulletin, garnered the top spot in the USA TODAY/ESPN/Women’s Basketball Coaches Association  Division II Preseason Poll which was released today.

Tech garnered 12 of the 30 possible first-place votes and edged out Franklin Pierce, which was last year’s national runner-up. The Huskies return all five starters from last year’s NCAA Midwest Regional Championship team that finished 27-7.

Two other teams from the NCAA Elite Eight—California (Pa.) and Delta State—are third and fourth, respectively. Other Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference teams appearing in the poll are Hillsdale at No. 23 and Grand Valley State at No. 25.

Michigan Tech will officially open its 2009-10 season at Minnesota Duluth on Nov. 15.

The complete USA TODAY/ESPN/WBCA Division II Preseason Poll is below.

USA TODAY/ESPN/WBCA Division II Preseason Poll
Team (First Place Votes) Previous Rank, Last Year’s Record, Poll Points
1. Michigan Technological University (12) 8, 27-7, 563
2. Franklin Pierce University (N.H.) (3) 2, 29-6, 552
3. California University of Pennsylvania 4, 29-5, 486
4. Delta State University (Miss.) (1) 6, 30-7, 483
5. Fort Lewis College (Colo.) (2) 9, 28-3, 478
6. Minnesota State University, Mankato (8) 1, 32-2, 448
7. Emporia State University (Kan.) 17, 26-6, 409
8. University of Alaska - Anchorage 3, 31-4, 383
9. Stonehill College (Mass.)  22, 22-8, 370
10. West Texas A&M University 5, 28-6, 341
11. University of Indianapolis (Ind.) 24, 24-10, 328
12. University of Central Oklahoma 12, 23-5, 297
13. Clayton State University (Ga.) 11, 26-7, 292
14. University of California - San Diego 16, 27-5, 287
15. Northern Kentucky University 10, 29-3, 270
16. Seattle Pacific University (Wash.) 7, 23-4, 216
17. Holy Family University (Pa.) NR, 26-6, 189
18. Washburn University (Kan.) 13, 27-5, 180
19. Gannon University (Pa.) 20, 30-4, 170
20. Lenoir-Rhyne University (N.C.) 23, 27-5, 148
21. Indiana University of Pennsylvania 19, 26-6, 143
22. University of Tampa (Fla.) NR, 26-6, 141
23. Hillsdale College (Mich.) 15, 27-4, 139
24. Quincy University (Ill.) 18, 27-5, 120
25. Grand Valley State University (Mich.) NR, 20-10, 111

Others Receiving Votes: Francis Marion University (S.C.) - 110; Valdosta State University (Ga.) - 75; Shaw University (N.C.) - 63; Drury University (Mo.) - 56; Philadelphia University (Pa.) - 47; Bentley University (Mass.) - 41; Tusculum College (Tenn.) - 40; Fort Valley State University (Ga.) - 37; Lander University (S.C.) - 36; Ouachita Baptist University (Ark.) - 32; University of District of Columbia - 32; Millersville University of Pennsylvania - 31; Johnson C. Smith University (N.C.) - 26; Northwood University (Mich.) - 24; Concordia University, St. Paul (Minn.) - 22; American International College (Mass.) - 21; Augustana College (Ill.) - 21; Columbus State University (Ga.) - 19; Rollins College (Fla.) - 18; West Liberty State College (W. Va.) - 18; University of the Incarnate Word (Texas) - 16; Arkansas Tech University - 15; Georgia College & State University - 14; University of Arkansas- Monticello - 12; Barton College (N.C.) - 10; Carson-Newman College (Tenn.) - 7; University of New Haven (Conn.) - 7; University of South Carolina - Aiken 7; University of Wisconsin - Parkside - 6; Fairmont State University (W. Va.) - 5; Winona State University (Minn.) - 5; Dowling College (N.Y.) - 4; University of West Georgia - 4; Pittsburg State University (Kan.) - 3; Queens College (N.Y.) - 3; Seton Hill University (Pa.) - 3; Virginia State University - 3; California State Polytechnic University - Pomona - 2; Molloy College (N.Y.) - 2; Nova Southeastern University (Fla.) - 2; Wingate University (N.C.) - 2; Abilene Christian University (Texas) - 1; Bowie State University (Md.) - 1; Lewis University (Ill.) - 1; Minnesota State University, Moorhead - 1; Saint Mary's University (Texas) - 1.