Cal Ranked No. 15 In AP Preseason Poll

BERKELEY – The California women’s basketball team will open the season No. 15 in the Associated Press Preseason Poll, marking the third consecutive season under Lindsay Gottlieb that California has been tabbed in the national top 15 to open the year.

The top 10 teams in the AP poll begin with Connecticut, who received all 35 first-place votes, followed by South Carolina, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Texas A&M, Stanford, Duke, Baylor, Texas and Maryland. The Pac-12 had four teams in the poll (Stanford, California, Oregon State, UCLA).

A total of six teams on the 2013-14 schedule are listed or receiving votes in the preseason top 25 – Stanford (6), Louisville (12), Oregon State (20), UCLA (23), Oregon (RV) and Arizona State (RV).

Cal returns three starters and seven of its letterwinners from last year's squad that went 22-10. Led by returning starters and All-America candidates Brittany Boyd and Reshanda Gray, the Bears advanced to the NCAA Second Round and finished second in the Pac-12 standings.

The Bears open the year with a free exhibition game Saturday (Nov. 1) against Vanguard at Haas Pavilion. The regular season begins Sunday, Nov. 16 at Pacific. Single game, season ticket and mini-plan packages are available through the Cal Athletic Ticket Office, online or by calling 1-800-GO-BEARS.

Associated Press Preseason Poll
1. Connecticut (35)
2. South Carolina
3. Notre Dame
4. Tennessee
5. Texas A&M
6. Stanford
7. Duke
8. Baylor
9. Texas
10. Maryland
11. Kentucky
12. Louisville
13. North Carolina
14. Michigan State
15. California
16. Nebraska
17. West Virginia
18. DePaul
19. Iowa
20. Oregon State
21. Oklahoma State
22. Dayton
23. UCLA
T24. Rutgers
T24. Syracuse

(First-Place Votes)