Nov. 1, 2006

WACO, Texas - The Baylor Lady Bears are ranked No. 18 in the nation in the preseason USA Today/ESPN Coaches' poll, it was released on Wednesday.

Baylor posted a 26-7 overall record last season and finished No. 14 in the coaches' poll. The Lady Bears finished second in the Big 12 Conference and were eliminated from the NCAA Tournament in the Sweet 16 by eventual national champion Maryland. Baylor returns two starters off last season's squad and boasts seven newcomers on this year's roster.

This marks the fourth season the Lady Bears have been ranked in the coaches preseason poll. Baylor began the 2001-02 at No. 16, the 2004-05 season eighth and last season the Lady Bears were tabbed No. 7.

Baylor opens the exhibition schedule on Thursday at 7 p.m. CST against Louisiana College in the Ferrell Center followed by a Nov. 7 contest with the Houston Jaguars.

The regular season gets underway Nov. 12 when Baylor hosts the University of North Texas in first round action of the Preseason WNIT.

USA TODAY ESPN Coaches' Poll (2005-06 record in parentheses)
1. Maryland (34-4)
2. North Carolina (33-2)
3. Oklahoma (31-5)
4. Stanford (26-8)
5. Tennessee (31-5)
6. Duke (31-4)
7. Ohio State (29-3)
8. Connecticut (32-5)
9. Georgia (23-9)
10. LSU (31-4)
11. Rutgers (27-5)
12. Arizona State (25-7)
13. Purdue (26-7)
14. Texas A&M (23-9)
15. Vanderbilt (21-11)
16. Kentucky (22-9)
17. Michigan State (24-10)
18. Baylor (26-7)
19. DePaul (27-7)
20. New Mexico (22-10)
21. California (18-12)
22. Southern California (19-12)
23. UCLA (21-11)
24. Brigham Young (26-6)
25. Washington (19-11)

Others receiving votes (2005-06 record in parentheses): Boston College (21-12); George Washington (23-9); Utah (27-7); Texas (13-15); Bowling Green (28-3); TCU (19-12); Louisiana Tech (26-5); Old Dominion (22-9); Temple (24-8); Louisville (19-10); St. John`s (22-8); Pittsburgh (22-10); Kansas State (22-10); North Carolina State (19-12); Tulsa (25-7); Florida State (20-10); Texas Tech (15-14); South Carolina (17-12); Florida (21-9); Hartford (27-4); Rice (19-13); South Florida (19-12); Virginia Tech (21-10); Mississippi (17-14); Western Kentucky (26-7); Drake (17-12); Iowa (17-12); Middle Tennessee (20-11); Montana (21-7).