Tampa Named the Preseason Favorite in SSC Women’s Basketball Coaches Poll

MELBOURNE, Fla. - Sunshine State Conference women's basketball coaches selected the University of Tampa as the 2014-15 preseason favorite. The Spartans received 60 total votes and four of nine first place votes.

At 14-2 in SSC play, Tampa won the 2013-14 conference regular season championship and was runner-up in the postseason tournament.

One vote separated Tampa with Nova Southeastern, the 2014 SSC tournament champions. The Sharks received 59 votes and four first place votes. Rollins College was picked third in the poll with 52 votes and the final first-place vote.

During the 2013-14 season, Tampa (24-7, 14-2), Nova Southeastern (29-5, 12-4), Rollins (25-7, 12-4), and Saint Leo (20-10, 9-7) competed in the NCAA Division II Women's Basketball National Championship Tournament.

Tampa defeated West Florida (77-62) and Rollins (75-57) before losing to Nova Southeastern (56-53) in the third round. Nova Southeastern defeated Benedict (75-61), Albany State (96-69), Tampa, and Concordia-St. Paul (72-64) in their tournament run. The Sharks fell to West Texas A&M (80-66) in the national semifinals. Rollins topped Saint Leo (56-48) before losing to Tampa in the Round of 32.

The Division II Bulletin preseason top-25 poll was released on Oct. 8 with Nova Southeastern ranked No. 7 and Tampa at No. 16.

2 Nova Southeastern (4) 59

3 Rollins (1) 52

4 Florida Tech 38

5 Barry 31

6 Lynn 29

7 Eckerd 27

8 Saint Leo 16

9 Florida Southern 12