FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Sports Information Director, 630-637-5302
CCIW Preseason Coaches Chat

Oct. 28, 2009 -- The College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin released its annual women's basketball preseason coaches' poll on Wednesday with North Central College picked to finish sixth in 2009-2010.

Two-time defending champion Illinois Wesleyan University is the preseason conference favorite, garnered six of the eight first-place votes and receiving 48 points. Carthage College is picked to finish second, received the remaining two first place votes and 42 points. Elmhurst College is picked to finish third after receiving 39 points followed by Wheaton College in fourth (27) and Millikin University in fifth (26). The Cardinals are predicted to place sixth, receiving 21 points while Augustana College (seventh, 13) and North Park University (eighth, 8) round out the poll.

North Central finished the 2008-09 season with a 12-13 overall record and a 7-7 mark in league play, qualifying for the CCIW Tournament for the first time in school history in head coach Kendra Hunter's first year at the helm.

The Cardinals tip off their 2009-10 campaign on November 20, hosting Blackburn College in the opening round of the North Central College Tip-Off Tournament.