KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The defending NCAA-II Central Region Champion and 2021 Final Four qualifier University of Central Missouri Jennies basketball team was picked to finish second in the 2021-22 MIAA preseason coaches' poll and tied for first in the 2021-22 MIAA preseason media poll, MIAA commissioner Mike Racy announced Tuesday, Oct. 12, at MIAA Basketball Media Day at the College Basketball Experience in downtown Kansas City.
In the preseason coaches' poll, the Jennies tallied 154 points and three first-place votes, while in the media poll, Central Missouri tallied 118 points and five first-place votes.
Defending MIAA regular season champion Fort Hays State was voted the preseason favorite by the conference women's basketball head coaches, tallying 159 points and six first-place votes in the coaches' poll, while the Tigers tied the Jennies for the top spot in the media poll with 118 points and four first-place votes.
Last season's MIAA tournament champion, Nebraska Kearney, rounded out the top-three in both polls, finishing third in the coaches' poll with 153 points and a trio of first-place votes and in the media poll with 112 points.
The full polls can be found below.
UCM posted an overall record of 23-5 and went 19-3 in the MIAA in 2020-21 enroute to its eighth NCAA Central Region Championship.
The Jennies return three starters from last season's Final Four team, including All-American and First Team All-MIAA honoree
Nija Collier (G/F), as well as Second Team All-MIAA selections
Olivia Nelson (G) and
Graycen Holden (F).
Central Missouri is scheduled to tipoff its 2021-22 season Oct. 29-31 at the D2CCA Tip Off Classic in Canyon, Texas.
2021-2022 MIAA Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. Fort Hays State (6) – 159 points
2. Central Missouri (3) – 154 points
3. Nebraska Kearney (3) – 153 points
4. Emporia State (2) – 136 points
5. Central Oklahoma – 121 points
6. Washburn – 106 points
7. Pittsburg State – 94 points
8. Missouri Western – 78 points
T9. Missouri Southern – 71 points
T9. Northwest Missouri – 71 points
11. Northeastern State – 49 points
12. Rogers State – 34 points
T13. Lincoln – 24 points
T13. Newman – 24 points
Coaches Are Not Allowed to Vote For Their Own Team
2021-2022 MIAA Women's Basketball Preseason Media Poll
T1. Central Missouri (5) – 118 points
T1. Fort Hays State (4) – 118 points
3. Nebraska Kearney – 112 points
4. Emporia State – 98 points
5. Central Oklahoma – 87 points
6. Washburn – 72 points
7. Pittsburg State – 70 points
8. Missouri Western – 65 points
9. Northwest Missouri – 62 points
10. Missouri Southern – 49 points
T11. Northeastern State – 32 points
T11. Rogers State – 32 points
13. Newman – 18 points
14. Lincoln – 12 points
