Griffons Picked to Finish 11th & 12th, Bearcats 14th in Preseason Polls

(KANSAS CITY, Mo.) Difficult seasons in 2011-2012 for the Missouri Western and Northwest women's basketball teams have the MIAA media and coaches picking both squads to finish the upcoming season in the lower half of the conference.

The MIAA Women's Basketball Preseason Polls were released Wednesday.

The Griffons were picked to finish 11th in the league according to the coaches, and 12th in the media poll.

Western went 7-20 overall, 5-15 in conference play a season ago.

The Griffs look to turn things around in 2012-13 under the direction of new head coach Rob Edmisson.

Edmisson comes to Missouri Western from Oklahoma City University with a 514-150 career record.

Just two years removed from a Final Four appearance, Northwest posted a 6-22 overall record a season ago, and 4-16 in the MIAA.

Gene Steinmeyer retired from head coaching duties in the off-season, and Mark Kellogg accepted the position.

Kellogg comes to Maryville from Fort Lewis College in Durango, Colorado where his record through seven seasons was 173-46.

The Griffons open the season November 2nd with an exhibition game against Livin the Dream.

The Bearcats kick things off with an exhibition November 1st at Iowa State.


2012-13 MIAA Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Washburn (8)              189
2. Pittsburg State (6)       178
3. Emporia State (1)        171
4. Northeastern State      154
5. Fort Hays State            139
6. Central Missouri           135
7. Truman                         112
8. Central Oklahoma        110
T9. Lincoln                          65
T9. Missouri Southern        65
11. Missouri Western          64
T12. Lindenwood                62
T12. Southwest Baptist       62
14. Northwest Missouri        51
15. Nebraska-Kearney        18
 
2012-13 MIAA Preseason Media Poll
1. Washburn (8)                257
2. Pittsburg State (8)         254
3. Emporia State (2)         235
4. Northeastern State       204
5. Fort Hays State            193
6. Central Missouri           183
7. Central Oklahoma        156
8. Truman                        152
9. Lindenwood                 117
10. Southwest Baptist       93
11. Lincoln                         87
12. Missouri Western        69
13. Missouri Southern      65
14. Northwest Missouri    60
15. Nebraska-Kearney    35