George Fox Tabbed to Repeat in 2005-06
2005-06 Women's Basketball Coaches Pre-Season Poll:
| School |
(1st) |
Pts. |
04-05 Overall |
04-05 NWC |
| George Fox (Ore.) |
(7) |
86 |
22-6 |
14-2 |
| Whitman (Wash.) |
(1) |
66 |
14-11 |
9-7 |
| Pacific Lutheran (Wash.) |
(1) |
60 |
14-11 |
10-5 |
| Puget Sound (Wash.) |
|
52 |
18-7 |
9-7 |
| Whitworth (Wash.) |
|
41 |
22-3 |
13-3 |
| Linfield (Ore.) |
|
37 |
13-12 |
8-8 |
| Pacific (Ore.) |
|
27 |
8-17 |
3-13 |
| Willamette (Ore.) |
|
23 |
8-17 |
5-11 |
| Lewis & Clark (Ore.) |
|
22 |
5-20 |
1-15 |
(First-place votes in parenthesis. Points awarded on 10-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis).
SPOKANE, Wash -- Unlike last fall, there is not much confusion about which team the Northwest Conference coaches think will win the 2005-06 women's basketball title. George Fox University is a heavy favorite to repeat, after receiving seven of nine possible first place votes and 86 points in the poll.
The Bruins, picked to finish fifth last winter, emerged from the pack to finish 22-6 overall and 14-2 in the conference behind NWC Player of the Year Kim Leith. George Fox advanced to within a game of the final four in the NCAA Division III tournament. Leith returns to lead the squad again this season for head coach Scott Rueck, the 2005 NWC Coach of the Year. However, First Team All-NWC forward Liz Clark has graduated.
Whitman College, a co-champion in 2003-04, finished second in the poll with one first place vote and 66 points in the poll. The Missionaries return all five starters, including seniors Lizzy Washburn, Laura Vertatschitsch and Megan Higgins. Whitman dropped to tied for fourth last season after dealing with numerous injuries.
Pacific Lutheran University is third in the poll with the final first place vote and 60 points. Senior wing Kelly Turner will lead the Lutes, who must overcome the graduation of All-NWC guard Aundi Kustura. The University of Puget Sound followed in fourth place with 52 points. The Loggers will attempt to overcome the graduation of All-NWC post players Lindsay May and Angie Straw.
No team must overcome more than Whitworth College. The Pirates, picked fifth in the poll with 41 points, must replace all five starters from last season, including multiple time All-NWC honorees Tiffany Speer and Sarah Shogren.
Linfield College is sixth in the poll with 37 points. The Wildcats, who were also picked sixth last season, must replace point guard Heidi Jurgens, who graduated.
Pacific University (27 points), Willamette University (23) and Lewis & Clark College (22 points) rounded out the poll in seventh through ninth places, respectively. Pacific returns All-NWC forward DeeDee Arnall, while Willamette welcomes back All-NWC post Vanessa Wyffels. The pair finished first and second in scoring in the NWC last winter.
This season the Northwest Conference returns to a conference tournament to decide the automatic (Pool A) bid to the NCAA tournament. At the conclusion of the regular season with second place team in the final standings will host the third place team in a playoff. The winner will play at the regular season champion for the NCAA bid.