By FHSU SPORTS INFORMATION
OKLAHOMA CITY – The Fort Hays State women’s basketball team will open the season ranked seventh in the preseason D2SIDA national media poll, released Wednesday (Nov. 3) by the organization. The Tigers were previously ranked fourth in the preseason WBCA coaches poll.
This is the fourth time the Tigers have been ranked in the preseason version of the media poll, now in its eighth year in existence. FHSU opened the 2019-20 season ranked third in the poll, while heading into the 2018-19 campaign ranked 22nd and the 2015-16 season ranked 10th.
The Tigers are one of three MIAA programs ranked in the preseason media poll. FHSU is joined by fourth-ranked Central Missouri and 15th-ranked Nebraska-Kearney.
Lubbock Christian, the defending national champions, are a unanimous choice for the No. 1 spot, followed by fellow national semifinalists Drury, Lander and UCM. Alaska-Anchorage rounds out the top five.
This is the 10th straight season the Tigers have been recognized in the national polls, and 11th year overall. Fort Hays State has been mentioned in the D2SIDA media poll at least once in all eight years of the poll’s existence.
Fort Hays State plays an exhibition contest at NCAA Division I powerhouse UConn on Sunday (Nov. 7) at noon (1 pm ET) before traveling to St. Joseph, Mo. to open the regular season against Southeastern Oklahoma State on Friday, November 12.
The full preseason D2SIDA Media Poll can be found below.
| 2021-22 D2SIDA Women’s Basketball Preseason Media Poll | |||
| Rank | School (First-Place Votes) | W-L | Pts. |
| 1 | Lubbock Christian (16) | 23-0 | 400 |
| 2 | Drury | 17-1 | 382 |
| 3 | Lander | 20-2 | 358 |
| 4 | Central Missouri | 19-3 | 352 |
| 5 | Alaska-Anchorage | 0-0 | 309 |
| 6 | North Georgia | 18-2 | 284 |
| 7 | Fort Hays State | 20-2 | 259 |
| 8 | Daeman | 14-3 | 249 |
| 9 | Gannon | 0-0 | 247 |
| 10 | Azusa Pacific | 12-5 | 246 |
| 11 | Colorado School of Mines | 17-3 | 216 |
| 12 | Union (Tenn.) | 19-6 | 215 |
| 13 | Belmont Abbey | 24-3 | 192 |
| 14 | Walsh | 16-5 | 180 |
| 15 | Nebraska-Kearney | 19-3 | 164 |
| 16 | Tampa | 7-0 | 152 |
| 17 | Texas A&M-Commerce | 14-4 | 147 |
| 18 | Ashland | 11-7 | 132 |
| 19 | Stonehill | 0-0 | 128 |
| 20 | Bowie State | 0-0 | 116 |
| 21 | Minnesota-Duluth | 14-2 | 84 |
| 22 | Charleston (W.Va.) | 19-3 | 82 |
| 23 | Michigan Tech | 17-1 | 77 |
| 24 | Southwestern Oklahoma State | 18-4 | 46 |
| 25 | Cal State-San Marcos | 0-0 | 35 |
Receiving Votes: Lee 34, Carson-Newman 27, Adelphi 17, Western Colorado 16, Indiana (Pa.) 15, Arkansas Tech 12, Western Washington 10, Barton 9, Bentley 5, Valdosta State 2, Hawaii Pacific 1