Huskers Earn Top 25 Ranking from Associated Press

Lincoln -- The Nebraska women's basketball team earned its first preseason top 25 ranking in school history by claiming the No. 24 spot in the first poll of the 1999-2000 campaign when it was released on Tuesday, Nov. 9 by The Associated Press.

Before Coach Paul Sanderford came to Nebraska from Western Kentucky before the 1997-98 season, Nebraska had only been ranked four times in school history and never ranked in a preseason Associated Press poll. Since then, the Huskers have spent 27 weeks in either the AP or USA Today-ESPN Coaches poll. Nebraska was ranked No. 31 by the coaches in their preseason poll.

Sanderford said the Huskers' preseason ranking reflected the hard work that Nebraska's players have put in over the past three years and the progress of the program.

"The interest in women's basketball is getting better. I think we're making progress in the state," Sanderford said. "This shows that we're making progress in the nation."

Three other Big 12 schools cracked the top 25 in the preseason AP Poll, including No. 7 Iowa State, No. 18 Kansas and No. 22 Texas Tech. Texas was also among the top teams receiving votes.

The highest ranked non-conference opponent on Nebraska's schedule is UC Santa Barbara, which entered the poll at No. 14. The Huskers play the Gouchos at Santa Barbara on Jan. 3.