Carnegie Mellon Picked Eighth in UAA Preseason Women’s Basketball Poll

Nov. 9 - (ROCHESTER, N.Y.) - The Carnegie Mellon University Tartans have been picked eighth in the 2006 University Athletic Association (UAA) women’s basketball preseason poll. The voting was conducted among the league’s head coaches.

Washington University in St. Louis, winners of 16 UUAA women's basketball championships, including the last nine in a row, will enter the 2006-07 season as the overwhelming favorite to claim a tenth straight title.

The Bears claimed seven of eight available first-place votes (with coaches not allowed to vote for themselves) in tallying 48 points. Brandeis University and the University of Rochester, who finished second and third, respectively, in the standings a season ago, were both tied to finish second in this year's preseason poll with 40 points. Rochester picked up the two remaining first-place votes.

New York University, which garnered an at-large berth to the NCAA Division III Championship with an 18-8 overall record (7-7 in the UAA), is the coaches' pick to finish fourth, tallying 31 points. Rounding out the preseason rankings, in order, are the University of Chicago (24 points), Emory University (20), Case Western Reserve University (14), and Carnegie Mellon (seven).

Carnegie Mellon will open the 2006-2007 season Friday and Saturday, November 18-19, as they travel to Lancaster, Pa. to play in the Franklin & Marshall Invitational.

The complete 2006-2007 UAA Coaches Poll can be found below.

Place/School Points
1. Washington University (6) 48 points
2. University of Rochester (2) 40 points
Brandeis University 40 points
4. New York University 31 points
5. University of Chicago 24 points
6. Emory University 20 points
7. Case Western Reserve 14 points
8. Carnegie Mellon University 7 points