The Big 12 placed five women’s basketball teams in the 2008-09 Associated Press Preseason Top 25 Poll. Oklahoma led the conference contingent at No. 4 followed by No. 11 Texas A&M, No. 13 Texas, No. 14 Oklahoma State and No. 19 Baylor. In addition, Iowa State and Kansas State received votes.

Conference squads return 108 letterwinners, including 41 starters to this season’s rosters. Twenty-four of the Top 30 leading scorers and 16 of the Top 20 rebounders from last season are also back in the fold.

The Big 12 finished 2007-08 ranked No. 1 in conference RPI and became the first league in the history of the NCAA Division I Women’s Basketball Championship to post an 8-0 record in first round games.

The 2008-09 regular season gets underway on Friday, Nov. 14 with a full slate of non-conference games.

2008-09 Associated Press Preseason Top 25 Poll

1. Connecticut (44)
2. Stanford (1)
3. Maryland
4. Oklahoma
5. Rutgers
6. North Carolina
7. Tennessee
8. Duke
9. Cal
10. Louisville
11. Texas A&M
12. Vanderbilt
13. Texas
14. Oklahoma State
15. Virginia
16. Notre Dame
17. Arizona State
18. Ohio State
19. Baylor
20. Auburn
21. Florida State
22. Xavier
23. Purdue
24. LSU
25. Old Dominion
Receiving Votes: Iowa State, Kansas State