CORVALLIS, Ore. – New Cascade Collegiate Conference full member Lewis-Clark State College was picked to win its first CCC championship as the preseason coaches’ poll was released Tuesday.
The Warriors picked up eight first-place votes for 139 points. Last year, LC State finished the year with a 21-10 overall record and advanced to the NAIA women’s basketball national tournament, which unfortunately was canceled due to the pandemic.
Bushnell University comes off a solid 2019-20 campaign where it went 26-5 and won the CCC regular-season and tournament championships. The Beacons picked up four first-place votes in the poll, sitting just three points behind LCSC at 136. Bushnell also advanced to the national tournament after picking up the CCC’s first automatic qualifier.
Eastern Oregon University and Southern Oregon University tied for third place in the poll with 107 points each. The Mountaineers finished the year with a 22-10 overall mark, while the Raiders finished at 20-11, with one NAIA postseason game under their belt after grabbing the CCC’s second automatic qualifier.
Oregon Tech rounds out the top-five with 97 points, while Warner Pacific University (78 points), Corban University (71 points), College of Idaho (59 points), Northwest University (49 points) and The Evergreen State College (41 points) fill in spots six through 10, respectively.
Multnomah University (25 points) and Walla Walla University (21 points) closed out the poll at No. 11 and No. 12, respectively.
The basketball season’s start date was pushed back due to the coronavirus pandemic but is expected to start in December with the CCC Championship Tournament, present by U.S. Bank, starting Feb. 23 on campus sites.
2020 CCC Women’s Basketball Coaches’ Preseason Poll
Team (First-Place Votes) Points
1. Lewis-Clark State College (8) 139
2. Bushnell University (4) 136
T-3. Eastern Oregon University 107
T-3. Southern Oregon University 107
5. Oregon Tech 97
6. Warner Pacific University 78
7. Corban University 71
8. College of Idaho 59
9. Northwest University 49
10. The Evergreen State College 41
11. Multnomah University 25
12. Walla Walla University 21