FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – In the Division II Media Poll, sponsored by D2SIDA, the NSU women's basketball team has been pegged the team to beat in the South Region after receiving the No. 1 overall ranking regionally late Tuesday night. The Sharks were also recognized as one of the top programs in the country after the national poll featured NSU at No. 10.
In the South Regional rankings, the Sharks received 52 total points, three ahead of Union's 49 who NSU is set to square off with in the GSC/SSC Crossover Challenge, shaping up to be a powerhouse season-opening matchup Nov. 8 in Cleveland, Miss.
Florida Southern sits tied for second in the region with Union, while SSC members Tampa (6), Eckerd (7) and Embry-Riddle (10) each find themselves in the Top 10.
In the national rankings, the Sharks were just one of two SSC teams to place in the Top 25, checking in with 266 total points, as Florida Southern stood tied for No. 15 with North Georgia. The two schools that received first-place votes were No. 1 ranked Lubbock Christian with 14, and Drury with two.
Union checks in at No. 25, while the Sharks are set to host a non-conference matchup at the Rick Case Arena against No. 25 Bentley on Nov 18. NSU will meet with an Alaska Anchorage squad, who is currently receiving votes, when the team participates in the Barry Thanksgiving Tournament in Miami Shores, Fla.
The Sharks finished 2018-19 with an overall record of 21-12 and a 13-7 mark against Sunshine State Conference oppositions en route to an Elite Eight appearance. Under head coach LeAnn Freeland-Curry, the NSU women's basketball team continues to uphold a winning culture as they have achieved greater than 20 wins in five of the past seven seasons. During this stretch, the Sharks have appeared in the NCAA Division II Elite Eight four times and had one visit to the NCAA Division II Final Four.
Continuity will be an advantage for this year's group as the team welcomes back 10 returning players to compliment three newcomers, including key contributing starters Jordan Tully and Claire McMahon who averaged 11.2 and 10 points per game, respectively. The squad will also receive a lift from Skyla Osceola who missed the entire 2018-19 season, as well as Esabelle Levine who was only featured in two games last season as both athletes return to full health for the upcoming season.
The team will continue to prepare for the upcoming campaign as they take on Florida Atlantic in an exhibition tune-up game, Saturday Nov. 2 in Boca Raton, Fla.
To view the media poll in its entirety, including regional and national rankings, click HERE.
