By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
LILBURN, Ga. – The Fort Hays State women’s basketball team will open the 2018-19 season next week ranked 12th in the country according to the WBCA Division II Preseason Coaches Poll, released Thursday (Nov. 1). This is the second time the Tigers have been ranked in the top 25 to open the season (10th, 2015-16).
Fort Hays State is one of two MIAA schools ranked in the top 25, with defending national champion Central Missouri topping the poll. Emporia State is the final league team mentioned in the standings, receiving 11 points among the 24 ballots.
This is the highest ranking for the Tigers in the coaches poll since March 1, 2016 when they were also ranked 12th.
The Tigers have now been recognized in the WBCA national poll in seven straight seasons and eight years overall. Fort Hays State holds a 51-22 all-time record while ranked and is 47-21 under head coach Tony Hobson.
The Tigers were also recognized with a No. 22 ranking in the D2SIDA Preseason Media Poll, released earlier this week.
Fort Hays State opens the regular season against Southwest Minnesota State inside Gross Memorial Coliseum on November 9. Opening tip is set for 7 p.m.
Below is the 2018-19 WBCA NCAA DII Preseason Coaches Poll.
| Rank | School (Record) | Points | First-place votes | 2017-18 Final Rank |
| 1 | Central Missouri (30-3) | 595 | 20 | 1 |
| 2 | Ashland (34-1) | 579 | 4 | 2 |
| 3 | Carson-Newman (32-3) | 494 | 0 | 5 |
| 4 | Union (TN) (32-4) | 493 | 0 | 4 |
| 5 | Indiana (PA) (30-4) | 479 | 0 | 3 |
| 6 | Alaska Anchorage (27-5) | 456 | 0 | 11 |
| 7 | West Texas A&M (29-5) | 445 | 0 | 17 |
| 8 | Bentley (28-4) | 415 | 0 | 12 |
| 9 | Drury (31-3) | 410 | 0 | 7 |
| 10 | Lubbock Christian (31-2) | 356 | 0 | 6 |
| 11 | Edinboro (27-4) | 351 | 0 | 13 |
| 12 | Fort Hays State (26-7) | 310 | 0 | NR |
| 13 | Grand Valley State (26-7) | 267 | 0 | 24 |
| 14 | North Georgia (29-5) | 241 | 0 | 23 |
| 15 | University of the Sciences (30-4) | 239 | 0 | 15 |
| 16 | Azusa Pacific (27-5) | 226 | 0 | 22 |
| 17 | Florida Southern (25-5) | 225 | 0 | NR |
| 18 | Virginia Union (28-3) | 218 | 0 | 16 |
| 19 | Stonehill (29-4) | 165 | 0 | 8 |
| 20 | Southwestern Oklahoma State (26-5) | 155 | 0 | 20 |
| 21 | Wingate (26-6) | 106 | 0 | 19 |
| 22 | Black Hills State (24-8) | 101 | 0 | NR |
| 23 | Valdosta State (23-9) | 84 | 0 | NR |
| 24 | Northwest Nazarene (22-5) | 53 | 0 | NR |
| 25 | Lewis (24-8) | 52 | 0 | NR |
Dropped Out: 9 Augustana (SD) (29-4); 18 Southern Indiana (26-5); 21 UC San Diego (28-5); 22 Azusa Pacific (27-5); 24 Grand Valley State (26-7); 25 Hawaii Pacific (26-4)
Others receiving votes: Sioux Falls 47; Angelo State 35; UC San Diego 31; Augustana (SD) 17; Embry Riddle 15; Johnson C Smith 14; LIU Post 14; Southeastern Oklahoma State 14; Southern Indiana 14; Emporia State 11; Hawaii Pacific 10; California (PA) 4
7 teams mentioned on only one ballot for a total of 58 combined points.