Nov. 8, 2006

WACO, Texas - The Baylor Lady Bears are ranked No. 19 in the nation in the Associated Press Top 25 preseason poll, it was released on Wednesday. Last week, the USA Today/ESPN Coaches Poll listed the Lady Bears at No. 18.

Baylor posted a 26-7 overall record last season and finished No. 10 in the AP 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.

Baylor has now been ranked in a school-record 49 straight AP polls dating back to week nine of the 2003-04 listing when it broke in at No. 24.

Baylor's regular season gets underway Nov. 10 when it hosts the University of North Texas in first round action of the 16-team Preseason Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT).

Associated Press Poll
Preseason
1. Maryland
2. North Carolina
3. Oklahoma
4. Stanford
5. Tennessee
6. Duke
7. Ohio State
8. Connecticut
9. Georgia
10. LSU
11. Purdue
12. Rutgers
13. Arizona State
14. Texas A&M
15. Kentucky
16. Vanderbilt
17. Michigan State
18. New Mexico
19. Baylor
20. DePaul
21. California
22. Southern California
23. UCLA
24. Brigham Young
25. Texas

Others receiving votes: Washington 91, George Washington 81, Old Dominion 64, Bowling Green 53, St. John's 47, Texas Tech 45, Louisville 41, TCU 38, Boston College 32, N.C. State 25, Louisiana Tech 24, Pittsburgh 18, Virginia 16, Kansas St. 14, Iowa St. 11, Florida 10, Utah 10, South Florida 7, Penn St. 6, Virginia Tech 6, Florida St. 3, Iowa 3, Marquette 3, Rice 3, Xavier 2, Hartford 1, Temple 1, Tulsa 1, Wyoming 1.