Hawkeyes Ranked No. 25 In ESPN/USA Today Poll

Nov. 3, 2010

IOWA CITY, Iowa – The University of Iowa women’s basketball team has picked up another preseason ranking. The Hawkeyes are ranked 25th in the preseason ESPN/USA Today Coaches top-25 poll.

This is the first time since the 2004-05 season that Iowa has appeared in the ESPN/USA top-25. The Hawkeyes were ranked for seven weeks during that season, with the last appearance coming Jan. 31 at No. 25. This is also Iowa’s first preseason appearance in the ESPN/USA top-25 since 1997, when the Hawkeyes started the season ranked 12th.

Four of Iowa’s opponents, including two Big Ten teams, are also in the preseason ESPN/USA Today top-25: Ohio State (seventh), Iowa State (17th), North Carolina (18th) and Michigan State (24th).

This is the third preseason ranking the Hawkeyes have garnered this season. Lindy’s Sports tabbed Iowa 19th in its preseason rankings while the Associated Press tabbed the Hawkeyes 22nd. Iowa was picked second in the Big Ten by both the league media and coaches at Big Ten Basketball Media Day.

Iowa opens the 2010-11 season Nov. 7 with an exhibition against Concordia-St. Paul at 1 p.m.