COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS - The defending national champion Texas A&M women's basketball team was ranked No. 7 nationally in the Sporting News preseason top 25 poll.
The poll features eight teams on the Aggies' 2011-12 slate including No. 2 Baylor, No. 3 Connecticut, No. 9 Louisville, No. 13 Purdue, No. 16 Oklahoma, No. 20 Texas, No. 21 USC, and possibly No. 19 St. John's at the Junkanoo Jam in the Bahamas. Notre Dame, who A&M defeated 76-70 in the national title game last season, took the top spot.
The Aggies lost two starters from last season, but return seniors Sydney Carter, Adaora Elonu and Tyra White to the starting lineup for the 2011-12 campaign. White and Carter earned Preseason All-Big 12 and Preseason All-Big 12 honorable mention, respectively. A&M has 10 returning letterwinners overall.
Four very talented newcomers join the Aggies in Big 12 Preseason Newcomer of the Year Kelsey Bone, 6-foot-7 center Rachel Mitchell, Big 12 Preseason Co-Freshman of the Year Alexia Standish and 5-foot-10 guard Tori Scott.
Head coach Gary Blair inters his ninth season at the helm of Texas A&M and is coming off leading the Aggies to their first national championship and their first 30-win season (33-5) in school history in the 2010-11 season.
A&M was also tabbed No. 9 in the Athlon Sports preseason poll.
Season tickets are now on sale for the 2011-12 season. Packages begin at just $100, visit tickets.12thmanfoundation.com for more information.
Texas A&M is hosting the 2012 NCAA First & Second Rounds at Reed Arena. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
Sporting News
1. Notre Dame
2. Baylor
3. UConn
4. Tennessee
5. Stanford
6. Duke
7. Texas A&M
8. Georgetown
9. Louisville
10. Miami
11. Maryland
12. Penn State
13. Purdue
14. Florida State
15. Georgia
16. Oklahoma
17. North Carolina
18. Kentucky
19. St. John's
20. Texas
21. USC
22. UCLA
23. Michigan State
24. LSU
25. Texas Tech
Athlon's
1. Baylor
2. Tennessee
3. Connecticut
4.  Louisville
5.  Miami (Fla.)
6. Stanford
7. Notre Dame
8. Â Duke
9.  Texas A&M
10. DePaul
11. Georgetown
12. Rutgers
13. Maryland
14. Georgia
15. North Carolina
16. Penn State
17. UCLA
18. LSU
19. Florida State
20. Oklahoma
21. Ohio State
22. St. John's
23. Kentucky
24. Oral Roberts
25. Gonzaga