MONTICELLO – The University of Arkansas at Monticello women’s basketball team received 12 votes in the USA Today ESPN Top 25 Preseason Coaches Poll.
 
UAM, which was picked to finish third in the Gulf South Conference-West Division, is one of six GSC institutions to either be ranked or earn votes in the preseason poll.
 
Four-time defending GSC champion Delta State enters the 2009-10 campaign ranked fourth in the nation and is the only GSC school to be ranked.
 
Valdosta State leads the non-ranked GSC teams with 75 votes, followed by Ouachita Baptist with 32, Arkansas Tech with 15, UAM with 12 and West Georgia with four.
 
Of all of UAM’s non-conference opponents on the 2009-10 schedule, only Incarnate Word (16) and St. Mary’s (1) received votes in the preseason poll.
 
Michigan Tech opens the season ranked No. 1 with 12 first place votes.

The Cotton Blossoms begin the 2009-10 season tomorrow night in Monroe, La. for an exhibition contest against the ULM Warhawks. Opening tip is set for 5:15 p.m.