2007-08 Media Guide
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Clayton State ranked 23rd in USA Today/ESPN
Division II Preseason Top 25 Coach’s Poll
Lakers one of two Peach Belt Conference teams ranked in preseason

MORROW, Ga. – November 5, 2008 – What is starting to become an annual event, the Clayton State Laker women’s basketball team is once again getting national preseason attention.

After being ranked 21st in the Division II Preseason Top 25 for women’s basketball last month, Clayton State is ranked 23rd in the USA Today/ESPN Division II Top 25 Coach’s Poll, which was released on Wednesday. This marks the second straight season that Clayton State has been ranked in the Division II preseason Top 25 Coach’s Poll.

Clayton State and head coach Dennis Cox is coming off a 2007-08 season in which the Lakers went 20-11 overall with a third Peach Belt Conference regular season championship in the last four seasons. In addition, the Lakers earned their fourth straight NCAA Division II National Tournament berth, advancing to the "Sweet 16."

"Obviously, we have not achieved anything this season," said Cox, who is 99-30 in four seasons at Clayton State. "However, it is a great honor to be mentioned in the preseason with other elite programs in the country. It is also noteworthy that there are two other ranked teams that appear on our schedule this year.

"It certainly gives us motivation, as we try to prove ourselves worthy of this recognition."

Clayton State is one of two Peach Belt Conference teams ranked in the Division II preseason Top 25. USC Aiken is ranked 21st, while another Laker opponent for this season – Wingate – is tied for 13th, respectively.

The Lakers return three starters and seven letterwinners from last season. Clayton State opens the 2008-09 season on Nov. 15 against Barry in the Marriot Tip-Off Classic at Nova Southeastern.

USA TODAY ESPN DIVISION II TOP 25 COACHES' POLL

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.

Northern Kentucky University (22)

1

28-8

625

2.

California University of Pennsylvania (1)

8

27-7

541

3.

Washburn University (Kan.)

5

26-7

506

4.

Franklin Pierce University (N.H.)

6

27-5

494

5.

University of Alaska Anchorage

4

30-5

479

6.

West Texas A&M University (3)

18

26-5

474

7.

Drury University (Mo.)

11

27-3

405

8.

Stonehill College (Mass.)

13

27-5

402

9.

Delta State University (Miss.)

3

33-1

376

10.

Holy Family University (Pa.)

9

32-1

335

11.

Indiana University of Pennsylvania

23

27-5

334

12.

Michigan Technological University

NR

23-8

298

t13.

Tusculum College (Tenn.)

NR

26-5

280

t13.

Wingate University (N.C.)

10

26-8

280

t15.

Arkansas Tech University

16

26-6

223

t15.

Emporia State University (Kan.)

22

23-8

223

17.

Hillside College (Mich.)

NR

23-5

196

18.

University of West Georgia

NR

25-5

193

19.

University of Central Oklahoma

NR

24-8

185

20.

University of South Carolina, Aiken

NR

20-8

158

21.

Augustana College (S.D.)

NR

22-9

149

22.

Seattle Pacific (Wash.)

7

29-1

120

23.

CLAYTON STATE UNIVERSITY (Ga.)

24

20-11

104

24.

Anderson University (S.C.)

19

28-4

93

25.

University of Nebraska, Kearney

NR

27-7

85

Others Receiving Votes: Minnesota State University, Mankato - 83; Nova Southeastern University (Fla.) - 81; University of South Dakota, Vermillion - 72; California State University, Chico - 64; Fort Lewis College (Colo.) - 63; Shaw University (N.C.) - 55; Valdosta State University (Ga.) - 50; Lake Superior State University (Mich.) - 35; Concordia University (Minn.) - 29; Johnson C. Smith University (N.C.) - 27; Millersville University of Pennsylvania - 22; Northwood University (Mich.) - 22; Shepherd University (W.Va.) - 22; Assumption College (Mass.) - 21; Fairmont State University (W. Va.) - 21; Kentucky State University - 20; Saint Mary's University (Texas) - 18; University of Indianapolis (Ind.) - 18; Rollins College (Fla.) - 17; University of District of Columbia - 17; Fort Valley State University (Ga.)- 14; Texas A&M University-Commerce - 14; Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania - 11; Bentley College (Mass.) - 8; Francis Marion University (S.C.) - 8; College of Saint Rose (N.Y.) - 7; Ashland University (Ohio) - 6; Fayetteville State University (N.C.) - 6; Sonoma State University (Calif.) - 6; West Virginia Wesleyan - 6; Quincy University (Ill.) - 5; Gannon University (Penn.) - 4; Carson-Newman College (Tenn.) - 3; Dominican College (N.Y.) - 3; Abilene Christian University (Texas) - 2; Colorado State University, Pueblo - 2; Barry University (Fla.) - 1; Northwest Missouri State University - 1.