Northwestern College is picked to finish fourth in the GPAC Women's Basketball Preseason coaches' poll announced earlier today by the league office. 

The Red Raiders totaled 76 points, just two behind Morningside who was picked to finish third. Defending GPAC champion Concordia is the preseason favorite, totaling 10 of the 11 possible first place votes and 100 points. Dakota Wesleyan picked up the final first place vote was picked second. 

Head Coach Chris Yaw, who begins his seventh season as the head of the women's basketball program, returns all five starters and its top eight scorers from a 2016-17 team that finished fifth in the GPAC with a 10-10 record, 20-12 overall. They were one of five GPAC teams that earned a spot at the 32-team NAIA Division II Championship, defeating Southern Oregon in the first round before losing to No.1 seed Southeastern (Fla.). 

Northwestern will open the season at home against William Penn (Iowa) on Tuesday, Oct. 31.

GPAC Press Release | 

Here is the complete 2017-18 GPAC Women's Basketball Preseason Coaches' Poll: 

1. Concordia                    100 pts        10 1st Place Votes
2. Dakota Wesleyan          90 pts        1 1st Place Vote
3. Morningside                   78 pts        
4. Northwestern               76 pts
5. Hastings                        65 pts
6. Midland                          47 pts
7. Briar Cliff                        46 pts
8. Doane                            32 pts
9. Mount Marty                   29 pts
10.Dordt                             27 pts
11.College of Saint Mary    15 pts