2015-16 Preseason NCAA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll
The USA TODAY Sports Division II Top 25 women’s basketball poll, with first place votes to the right, total points based on 25 points for first place through one point for 25th.
Rank | Institution – First Place Votes | Last Year’s Final Rank | Last Year’s Final Record | Total Points |
1 | Emporia State University (Kan.) – 12 | 4 | 29-5 | 552 |
2 | Lewis University (Ill.) – 2 | 5 | 31-3 | 493 |
3 | California Baptist University – 3 | 2 | 29-7 | 487 |
4 | Nova Southeastern University (Fla.) | 7 | 27-6 | 478 |
5 | California University of Pennsylvania (Pa.) – 6 | 1 | 32-4 | 453 |
6 | Columbus State University (Ga.) – 1 | 14 | 31-2 | 400 |
7 | University of Alaska – Anchorage | 13 | 29-2 | 396 |
8 | Michigan Technological University | 15 | 28-3 | 379 |
9 | West Texas A&M University | 6 | 30-3 | 357 |
10 | Fort Hays State University (Kan.) | 8 | 30-4 | 355 |
11 | Drury University (Mo.) | 17 | 26-4 | 319 |
12 | Limestone College (S.C.) | 3 | 34-2 | 274 |
13 | Union University (Tenn.) | 10 | 28-4 | 230 |
14 | Adelphi University (N.Y.) | 19 | 28-4 | 222 |
15 | Ashland University (Ohio) | 22 | 25-9 | 182 |
16 | Winona State University (Minn.) | NR | 20-8 | 179 |
17 | Queens College (N.Y.) | NR | 22-8 | 175 |
18 | Arkansas Tech University | NR | 23-7 | 156 |
19 | Colorado Mesa University | NR | 23-6 | 146 |
20 | University of Tampa (Fla.) | NR | 17-11 | 143 |
21 | West Liberty University (W.Va.) | NR | 24-9 | 122 |
22 | Anderson University (S.C.) | 24 | 27-5 | 113 |
23 | Lubbock Christian University (Texas) | NR | 21-7 | 85 |
24 | Wayne State College (Neb.) | 18 | 28-6 | 83 |
25 | West Chester University of Pennsylvania | NR | 24-6 | 82 |
Others receiving votes: Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania 63; University of West Florida 61; Lander University (S.C.) 50; Albany State University (Ga.) 48; Missouri Western State (Mo.) 48; Harding University (Ark.) 45; Stonehill College (Mass.) 41; University of Colorado – Colorado Springs 41; Western Washington University 39; Franklin Pierce University (N.H.) 37; Virginia State University (Va.) 34; Benedict College (S.C.) 30; Shaw University (N.C.) 30; Bentley University (Mass.) 27; Cedarville University (Ohio) 25; Wayne State University (Mich.) 23; Johnson C Smith University (N.C.) 22; Kentucky State University 22; Philadelphia University (Pa.) 22; Holy Family University (Pa.) 21; University of Central Missouri 17; California State University – Dominguez Hills 14; Gannon University (Pa.) 13; University of Charleston (W.Va.) 7; University Of Sioux Falls (S.D.) 7; Texas Woman’s University  4; University of California – San Diego 4.
18 teams mentioned on only one ballot for a total of 144 combined points.
The USA TODAY Sports committee of coaches is made up of 27 head coaches at Division II institutions. All are members of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA). The 2015-16 committee: Chris Kielsmeier (Wayne State University (Neb.)), Chancellor Dugan (Bellarmine University) and Claudette Charney (Hillsdale College) – Non-voting Chairs, Suzy Barcomb (California State University – East Bay), Mark Miller (Holy Family University), Jacques Curtis (Shaw University), Russ Gregg (Erskin College), Beth Naumovski (Queens College), Tim Kirby (Harding University), Kirk Martin (Cedarville University), Carrie Lohr (Wayne State University (Mich.)), Katie Vaughn (University of Missouri – St. Louis), Julie Heisey (Seattle Pacific University), Scott Groninger (University of West Georgia), Jason Martens (St. Mary’s University), Noel Johnson (Midwestern State University), Ronda Hubbard (Missouri Southern State University), Kristin Kunzman (University of Virginia – Wise), Trisha Brown (Stonehill College), Sheila Green-Gerding (Minot State University), Jarrod Olson (California Baptist University), Mike Brandt (University of South Carolina – Aiken), Jess Strom (California University of Pennsylvania), Rusty Kennedy (Western New Mexico University), Sarah Jansen (Mars Hill University), James Rice (Benedict College), and John Reynolds (Florida Institute of Technology).