SEATTLE (Oct. 16) -- Seattle Pacific University is ranked 15th in the preseason women's basketball poll conducted by The Division II Bulletin.

The Falcons, who return all five starters from last year's 22-6 squad, opened preseason drills Tuesday and play an exhibition game at Portland Nov. 14. The first regular season game will be versus No. 17 North Dakota State Nov. 22 in Bellingham.

Bentley College of Massachusetts is the top-ranked team in NCAA Division II. Cal State Bakersfield, which defeated SPU in the first round of the NCAA tournament, is No. 4 and the only other West Region team listed in the top 25.

1. Bentley College (Mass.)
2. South Dakota State
3. North Dakota
4. Cal State Bakersfield
5. Missouri Western
6. Glenville State (SC)
7. South Carolina-Aiken
8. Lake Superior State (Mich.)
9. Virginia State
10. Southwest State (Minn.)
11. Arkansas Tech
12. Nebraska-Kearney
13. Catawba College (NC)
14. St. Mary's (Texas)
15. Seattle Pacific
16. Washburn University (Kan.)
17. North Dakota State
18. Le Moyne College (NY)
19. Florida Tech
20. California (Pa.)
21. Quincy College (Ill.)
22. West Liberty State (Pa.)
23. Rollins College (Fla.)
24. Bellarmine College (Mass.)
25. Shippensburg University (Pa.)