BEAVERTON, Ore. – Just over a week after the Pointer men's basketball team was picked as the nation's preseason No. 1, the Pointer women's team also appears on the radar as a top-10 team in the nation entering the 2010-11 season, ranking eighth in the Women's DIII News Preseason Top-25 poll.

The Pointers return four starters and 11 letterwinners from last season's team that advanced to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Division III Tournament. Last season the Pointers finished 24-7 and captured the team's third straight Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) tournament title.

Amherst College was ranked No. 1 in the nation, followed by Hope (Mich.), Washington (Mo.), Illinois Wesleyan and Rochester (N.Y.).

The Lord Jeffs were 32-1 last season and return their entire roster from last year's squad that outscored opponents by 25.4 points per game. NESCAC MVP Caroline Stedman (12.3 ppg) leads Amherst.

The Women's DIII News Top 25:
1. Amherst
2. Hope
3. Washington (Mo.)
4. Ill. Wesleyan
5. Rochester
6. Chris. Newport
7. Kean
8. Wis. Stevens Point
9. Babson
10. George Fox
11. Mt. Union
12. W. Connecticut
13. Messiah
14. St. Benedict
15. Gettysburg
16. Mary Washington
17. DePauw
18. Carthage
19. Calvin
20. Lebanon Valley
21. Roanoke
22. St. Thomas
23. Utica
24. Marymount
25. Thomas More

Others to watch include:
Southern Maine, Emmanuel, Ithaca, Cortland, La. College, Maryville, Muhlenberg, Scranton, Baruch, Moravian, DeSales, Wm. Paterson, Manhattanville, Medaille, Franklin, Ohio Wesleyan, Denison, Minn. Morris, St. Norbert, Simpson, Redlands