The Washburn Lady Blues basketball team was tabbed at No. 18 in the USA Today/ESPN Division II Top 25 Preseason Coaches Poll which was released today. The Lady Blues finished 13th in the final poll of the 2008-09 season. Washburn will open the exhibition season this Sunday at 3 p.m. at the University of Iowa. The Lady Blues will travel to Stillwater, Okla. to take on Oklahoma State on Tuesday before opening the regular season on Nov. 21 when they will face Southwestern (Kan.) at 7 p.m.

USA TODAY ESPN 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	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.