Five MCC schools were recognized in the NAIA Women's Basketball Coaches' Top 25 preseason poll released by the NAIA today. The MCC was second beind the Great Plains Athletic Conference for the most teams represented by any one league.

Bethel, Indiana Wesleyan, Saint Francis and Taylor all appear in the top 25 with Huntington receiving votes.

The Pilots top the grouping at No. 8 collecting 323 points. Finishing the 2008-09 season with a 23-9 record, BC is coming off a sweet sixteen appearance at the NAIA national tournament. The defending regular season MCC champions were picked first in the league's preseason poll with five first place votes and open up at the Midland Lutheran Classic this weekend.

With 233 points Indiana Wesleyan is slated at No. 14 in the NAIA polls. The Wildcats wrapped up the 2008-09 season with a sweet sixteen appearance and a 24-10 record. Grabbing one first place vote in the MCC presason poll, IWU was tied with Saint Francis to finish second in the league. They tip off the season on Nov. 7 against Viterbo University.

Saint Francis is the only team in the poll coming off a sub-.500 season, posting a 15-16 record last year, and the only one of the top five MCC schools to not qualify for the NAIA national tournament. The Cougars grabbed 216 points for the 16th spot in the poll and open their season on Nov. 6 vs. Roberts Wesleyan.

Taylor nabbed 115 points and slipped in at No. 23. Coming off a 21-12 season and a national tournament appearance, the Trojans were picked fourth in the MCC preseason poll. TU tips off its season on Nov. 7 at Wilberforce.

Despite winning the 2008-09 MCC Tournament and receiving two first place votes in the conference preseason poll, Huntington is on the outside of the NAIA Top 25 looking in. The Foresters' 61 points puts them just two spots away from cracking the top 25. HU opens the season on Nov. 3 vs. Cornerstone.

Defending undefeated national champion, Morningside College (Iowa), received 15 of the 16 first place votes and 436 total points for the top spot in the poll.