By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn University women's basketball was picked ninth in the MIAA Preseason Media Poll and 10th in the Coaches Poll, released Tuesday morning by the conference.
In 2023-24 Washburn finished 13-16 with an 8-14 record in the MIAA to end the season 10th in the regular-season standings. The Ichabods qualified for the first round of the MIAA Tournament, where they fell 72-65 to No. 7 seed Nebraska Kearney.
Pittsburg State tops the Coaches Poll after winning the 2023-24 MIAA Tournament Championship. PSU recieved 164 total points with 10 of 14 first-place votes.
Fort Hays State was picked second with two first place votes and Northwest Missouri was tabbed third with the remaining two first-place votes.
The Ichabods received 68 points in the coaches poll, just behind Northeastern State, which came in ninth with 80 points and ahead of Central Oklahoma with 50 points.
On the media side it was Fort Hays State at the top with 246 total points and nine first place votes.
Pittsburg State was second with five votes for first and 231 total points. Northwest Missouri, Missouri Southern, Missouri Western and Central Missouri were next in line, with each of those schools picked first on one ballot, except for the Griffons, who received two votes.
The Ichabods received 107 total points to come in one spot ahead of Northeastern State and one behind Nebraska-Kearney.
Washburn begins the season with an Oct. 30 exhibition game against Kansas State in Manhattan.
The first regular-season game comes on Friday, Nov. 8 against Southwest Minneosta State in St. Cloud, Minn. at 1 p.m.
2024-25 MIAA WOMEN'S PRESEASON COACHES POLL
1. Pittsburg State [10] – 164 points
2. Fort Hays State [2] – 152 points
3. Northwest Missouri [2] – 142 points
4. Missouri Southern – 137 points
5. Central Missouri – 124 points
6. Nebraska Kearney – 97 points
7. Missouri Western – 89 points
8. Emporia State – 86 points
9. Northeastern State – 80 points
10. Washburn – 68 points
11. Central Oklahoma – 50 points
12. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 39 points
13. Rogers State – 29 points
14. Newman – 17 points
[#] - Number of First-Place Votes
2024-25 MIAA WOMEN'S PRESEASON MEDIA POLL
1. Fort Hays State [9] – 246 points
2. Pittsburg State [5] – 231 points
3. Northwest Missouri [1] – 225 points
4. Missouri Southern [1] – 206 points
5. Missouri Western [2] – 192 points
6. Central Missouri [1] – 174 points
7. Emporia State – 139 points
8. Nebraska Kearney – 129 points
9. Washburn – 107 points
10. Northeastern State – 101 points
11. Central Oklahoma – 84 points
12. Arkansas-Fort Smith – 74 points
13. Rogers State – 66 points
14. Newman – 21 points
[#] - Number of First-Place Votes