University of Tampa Claims Top Spot in 2024-25 SSC Women’s Basketball Preseason Poll

Coaches of the Sunshine State Conference women’s basketball have chosen Tampa as the leading team for the upcoming 2024-25 season. The Spartans are anticipated to secure their ninth regular-season title, having garnered 96 points and seven first-place votes in the preseason poll.

Defending regular-season champion Nova Southeastern secured second place in the preseason rankings with 94 points and the last four first-place votes. Embry-Riddle claimed third with 79 points, followed by Eckerd and Rollins completing the top five with 68 and 62 points, respectively. Lynn came in sixth with 55 points, while Palm Beach Atlantic garnered 49 points for seventh. The voting continued with Barry and Florida Southern tied at 35 points each, Saint Leo with 19 points, and Florida Tech with 13 points.

2024-25 SSC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

Nova Southeastern concluded the 2023-24 season with an 18-2 record in conference games, securing the program’s fifth SSC regular season championship. Tampa was close behind with a 17-3 record in SSC competition, and Embry-Riddle took third place with a 13-7 tally. In a surprising turn, fourth-seeded Eckerd triumphed over Tampa with a 65-57 victory to win the conference postseason championship.

In the 2023-24 NCAA Division II tournament, Tampa, Nova Southeastern, Embry-Riddle, and Eckerd secured bids. Tampa triumphed over Embry-Riddle in the opening rounds and over Eckerd in the regional semifinals. The Spartans then defeated Nova Southeastern with a final score of 63-56 in the regional finals, clinching the South Regional title. However, their journey concluded in the Elite Eight with a 60-53 loss to Ferris State. This marked the ninth Elite Eight appearance for the SSC and the second for the Spartans.

Tampa will be the first SSC team to take the court in the 2024-25 season, facing Seattle Pacific on Friday, November 1, in Langley, British Columbia, during the CCA Division II Canadian Tip-Off Classic. The rest of the league teams will start their season on either Friday, November 8, or Saturday, November 9. The inaugural conference game between Eckerd and Florida Southern is scheduled for Wednesday, November 13.

Below are the full results of the 2024-25 SSC preseason women’s basketball coaches’ poll. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their teams (points: 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1, first-place votes in parentheses).

2024-25 SSC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PRESEASON COACHES POLL

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