The American Rivers Conference women’s basketball coaches have cast their votes for the league’s preseason poll. Wartburg received the top spot after winning both the regular season and conference tournament titles four straight years. The Knights reached the second round of last year’s NCAA tournament. Loras was picked second after reaching last year’s Sweet 16.

Simpson and Coe tied for the third spot, while Central received enough points for fifth. Luther, Dubuque, Nebraska Wesleyan and Buena Vista round out the poll.

Conference play begins Saturday, January 23rd, though some schools have decided to schedule non-conference matches prior to that date. The conference tournament will include all nine schools this year, which begins Monday, March 1st.

KNIA/KRLS will broadcast all conference Saturday home games for Central and Simpson this season, as the men’s and women’s games will take place in opposite locations this year, rather than traditional doubleheaders.