Jan. 29, 2003

WACO, Texas - Returning eight position starters and all three pitchers from last year's 46-18 squad, Baylor just missed a preseason ranking as the USA Today/NFCA Coaches Preseason Top 25 was released Wednesday by the sport's governing body. Baylor was the second team among those also receiving votes, just eight points behind No. 25 Massachusetts.

UCLA received 18 of 22 first-place votes and was the coaches' pick as the preseason favorite. Fellow Pac-10 powers Arizona and defending national champion California follow in that order with the Wildcats and the Golden Bears earning two first-place nods each. Nebraska, which was selected as the Big 12 Conference favorite earlier this week, and Michigan tied for the fourth spot. Washington, Louisiana State, Oklahoma, Florida State and Cal State Fullerton rounded out the top 10 in that order.

The Pac-10 dominated the poll with seven teams, including six in the top 14. No. 12 Texas and No. 24 Texas A&M gave the Big 12 four teams. The Southeastern Conference also had four teams with Georgia tied for 17th and Alabama at No. 22.

Baylor faces five of the top 12 teams this season. Along with Big 12 foes Nebraska, Oklahoma and Texas, the Lady Bears face seventh-ranked Louisiana State and 11th-ranked DePaul next weekend at the Tiger Classic in Baton Rouge, La.

The Lady Bears open the 2003 season this weekend, hosting Centenary, Florida and Texas-Arlington for the Getterman Classic. Action begins Friday at 11 a.m. with Florida battling Centenary. Baylor plays Centenary that afternoon at 4, followed by a 6:30 game against Texas-Arlington.

2003 USA TODAY/NFCA PRESEASON COACHES TOP 25                2002        2002School (No. 1 votes)        Record  Points  Ranking 1.  UCLA (18)          55-9    543  5 2.  Arizona (2)        55-12   515  2 3.  California (2)     56-19   435  1 4.  NEBRASKA            50-11   403  7     Michigan           50-14   403  6 6.  Washington         46-18   395 14 7.  Louisiana State     56-11   373  9 8.  OKLAHOMA           49-16   369  8 9.  Florida State      55-20   344  410.  Cal State Fullerton    53-13   341 1011.  DePaul          50-11   336 1112.  TEXAS          50-13   335 1613.  Arizona State      46-20   321  314.  Stanford           44-20   315 1515.  Fresno State       50-20   241 1716.  Ohio State         55-14   216 1317.  Notre Dame         44-16   160 19     Georgia            59-17   160 2219.  Georgia Tech       52-18   152 1820.  South Carolina     46-20   123 1221.  Pacific            43-17    92 2022.  Alabama            46-21    87 NR23.  Oregon State       40-25    80 2424.  TEXAS A&M           40-18    78 2125.  Massachusetts      53-13    68 23
Receiving Votes:  Florida Atlantic (63), BAYLOR (60), Iowa (52), Louisiana-Lafayette (29), Virginia Tech (3).