Laker women ranked 12th in Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25
Clayton State returns two starters from last season’s 29-6 Division II "Final Four" squad

MORROW, Ga. – October 12, 2007 – Fresh off the best season in program history, expectations are once again for the Clayton State Laker women’s basketball with the start of preseason practice just a few days away.

That was evident by the Division II Bulletin’s Preseason National Top 25 Poll, which was released on Friday. The poll has Clayton State ranked 12th in the nation – the highest preseason national ranking ever for a Laker women’s basketball team.

Clayton State is coming off a banner 29-6 2006-07 season in which the Lakers won both the Peach Belt Conference regular season and tournament championships, and advanced to the "Final Four" of the NCAA Division II National Tournament.

"Pre-season rankings are always a tough thing to gauge," said fourth-year Clayton State head coach Dennis Cox, who is 79-19 at the Laker helm. "While we are flattered that we would have this kind of expectation, we also know that we haven’t even won a game yet.

"However, we gladly accept and greatly appreciate the recognition, for it brings national exposure to our program and to Clayton State University. We look forward to the opportunity and the challenge to live up to it."

Clayton State is one of two Peach Belt teams ranked in the Top 25, as USC-Aiken is ranked 21st. In addition, the Lakers will square off against two teams ranked in the Top 10 – Delta State and Southern Connecticut State. Clayton State travels to seventh-ranked Delta State on Dec. 9, followed by a trip to second-ranked and defending Division II National Champion Southern Connecticut State on Dec. 16.

The Lakers return two starters off last season’s squad – senior All-Peach Belt Conference forward Shantel Ragin and senior wing Roberta Phillips. Also back is senior center Lynette Jackson, one of the nation’s leaders in blocked shots last season, and junior wing and 3-point threat Marie St. Fort.

On top of that, Cox has brought in a stellar recruiting class consisting of two Division II transfers, a Georgia All-State high school standout and five All-Region and All-American caliber players from the junior college level in Florida.

The Lakers start preseason practice on Oct. 15, and will play their first preseason exhibition game at home on Nov. 10 against Southern Polytechnic State. Clayton State officially opens the 2007-08 season at the Eagle Club Classic at Carson-Newman on Nov. 16-17.