UNION, N.J. (10/31/07) - The Kean University women's basketball team has earned national preseason attention, as the Cougars are ranked 12th in the USA Today ESPN Division III Top 25 Preseason Coaches' Poll, 7th in the D3hoops.com Preseason Top 25 Poll, and 5th in the Women's DIII News Preseason Top 25 Poll. The Cougars return four starters and the team's top three scorers from last year's squad that finished 27-4 and was one win away from advancing to the Final Four. Last year, Kean captured the program's 11th New Jersey Athletic Conference championship and advanced to the Elite Eight for just the second time in program history.

Kean faces two other preseason Top 25 teams during the regular season, as the Cougars travel to #11/3/11 Messiah College and #14/25/19 University of Scranton. Kean defeated Messiah in the second round of the NCAA tourney last season, 89-84, on the Falcons home court to advance to the Sweet Sixteen.

The Cougars also scrimmage preseason #4/8/2 New York University prior to the start of the season. The Violets ended Kean's season a year ago in the Elite Eight with the 76-64 win to advance NYU to the Final Four.

Kean opens the season on Saturday, November 17, when they host Oneonta State College in the first round of the Cougar Classic.