Lady Hoopsters ranked 22nd in NAIA pre-season poll

November 1, 2006

Corban's women's basketball team begins its season among the nation's top 25 for the first time ever following a 25-7 record last season, as well as being picked as the conference pre-season favorite in 2006-07. (Photo courtesy of Piet Van Weel)

OLATHE, Kan. - For the first time ever, Corban's women's basketball team will begin the season ranked among the nation's top twenty-five with a national ranking of 22nd in the NAIA Division II pre-season poll that was released on Wednesday.

Last season, the Warriors came out as the 27th ranked team in the nation according to the pre-season poll before moving up to as high as No. 16 on January 11th. Corban's ranking on the second week of the New Year was the highest that a women's basketball team had ever been ranked.

For the second straight season, Corban is picked as the pre-season favorite in the Cascade Collegiate Conference thanks to the return of 4-out-of-5 starters and 9-out-of-13 players from last season's roster.

After finishing the 2005-06 season with an overall record of 25-7, fifth-year head coach Dave Bale and the Warriors received 136 points, which is 14 points more than the 23rd ranked team (Virginia-Wise) and 27 points less than the 21st ranked team (Black Hills State from South Dakota).

"I am pleased with the ranking," said Bale. "I was hoping to get into the top 25 since we have been ranked each of the last two years. I do not think that (the national ranking) has effected our play. On the other hand, it does put a target on our back and gives teams a reason to cheer when they beat us."

Leading the host of returnees are are a pair of senior All-Conference honorees Jessi Norton (Redmond, Ore.) and Tosha Wilson (Madras, Ore.). Along with the All-Conference duo, senior Brianne Carras (Olympia, Wash.) and junior All-Conference honorable mention Jessica Steigleman (Eugene, Ore.) round out the quartet of starters.

The remaining returnees are senior Kendall Dionne (Brownsville, Ore.), senior Jessica Gama (Troutdale, Ore.), junior Mandy Peterson (Portland, Ore.), junior Katie Dennis (Damascus, Ore.), and sophomore Rachel Steigleman (Eugene, Ore.). Competing for the first time collegiately are a trio of freshman -- Hillary Sell (Aloha, Ore.), Beth McLam (Fairfield, Idaho), and Laura Santie (Seattle, Wash.).

The Warriors tip off the 2006-07 season on Tuesday, November 7th, when they host future Cascade Collegiate Conference member Northwest Christian College beginning at 5:30 p.m. inside the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center.

To see the entire NAIA Division II women's basketball pre-season poll, click here.