Women's Basketball chosen to finish second in NACC Preseason Poll

WAUKESHA, Wis. – Concordia Wisconsin received 10 first-place votes, but was chosen to finish second in the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference Preseason Poll on Tuesday, as voted on by the league's head coaches and athletic communicators.

CUW received 270 points overall and 10 first-place votes, while Wisconsin Lutheran was selected to win the conference after receiving 274 points and 13 first-place votes.

The Falcons ended the 2015-16 season with a 20-6 overall record, including a 17-3 NACC record and took home the NACC regular season title trophy. They led the league in free throws made and attempted per game, along with rebounding margin. Concordia Wisconsin was also the best defensive scoring team in the NACC last year.

MSOE was third with 235 points and Lakeland was fourth with 202 points and the remaining first-place pick. Benedictine collected 189 points for fifth, Aurora had 164 points for sixth and Alverno received 147 points for seventh. Concordia Chicago had 137 points for eighth, Edgewood followed in ninth with 98 points and Marian 10th with 77 points. Dominican and Rockford rounded out the poll with 42 and 37 points.

The NACC regular season standings determine the teams that qualify for the six-team conference tournament, while the tourney champion receives the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament.

2016-17 NACC Preseason Poll
1. Wisconsin Lutheran (13), 274
2. Concordia Wisconsin (10), 270
3. MSOE, 235
4. Lakeland (1), 202
5. Benedictine, 189
6. Aurora, 164
7. Alverno, 147
8. Concordia Chicago, 137
9. Edgewood, 98
10. Marian, 77
11. Dominican, 42
12. Rockford, 37

First-place votes in parentheses
Voted by the conference's head coaches and sports information directors
12-11-10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 point scale used