Lindy’s Ranks Women’s Hoops Preseason No. 16

By Katie Kane for WVUsports.com
September 19, 2012 04:45 PM

Asya Bussie is WVU's returning scoring leader for the 2012-13 season.

AP photo

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – The West Virginia University women’s basketball program was ranked No. 16 in the Lindy’s Sports College Basketball Preseason Top 25 poll.

The Mountaineers lost lone senior Natalie Burton to graduation after advancing to the second round of their third consecutive NCAA tournament and compiling a 24-10 overall record last season. With five starters and 10 total letterwinners returning for the 2012-13 season, WVU returns 98.4 percent of its scoring, led by senior Asya Bussie.

Bussie enters her senior season as the 15th player in program history to record 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in her career. In addition to regular-season experience, the Mountaineer squad also has all 10 returning letterwinners with experience in at least one NCAA tournament game. Adding depth in every position, the Mountaineer squad also added five true freshmen newcomers.

The national sports magazine placed five additional Big 12 Conference women’s basketball teams in the poll, with defending national champions Baylor at the No. 1 spot. Other league schools in the top 25 include Oklahoma at No. 13, Oklahoma State at No. 15, Texas at No. 21 and Iowa State at No. 22.

The Mountaineers will face Concord in an exhibition game on Oct. 30 at the WVU Coliseum, with the season and home opener set for Nov. 9 against UNC Wilmington.

Lindy’s Top 25
1. Baylor
2. Connecticut
3. Duke
4. Maryland
5. Stanford
6. Louisville
7. Kentucky
8. Penn State
9. Notre Dame
10. Delaware
11. Georgia
12. St. John’s
13. Oklahoma
14. California
15. Oklahoma State
16. West Virginia
17. Purdue
18. Texas A&M
19. Nebraska
20. Vanderbilt
21. Texas
22. Iowa State
23. Tennessee
24. Middle Tennessee
25. San Diego State

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