NAPERVILLE, Ill. – College Conference of Illinois & Wisconsin (CCIW) Women’s Basketball head coaches have tabbed Millikin as the preseason league favorite in a poll conducted earlier this month, the conference office announced Thursday afternoon. Five first-place votes and 61 points went to the Big Blue, in search of its third consecutive CCIW regular-season title.

2022-23 Preseason CCIW Women's Basketball Coaches' Poll

Team (First-place votes)	Points
1. Millikin (5)	61
2. Illinois Wesleyan (4)	58
3. Carroll	49
4. Wheaton	43
T5. Augustana	33
T5. North Park	33
7. Carthage	21
8. North Central	18
9. Elmhurst	8

Millikin is the top choice after last season’s 23-7 campaign that ended in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. MU and fifth-year head coach Olivia Lett shared last season’s CCIW regular-season crown with Illinois Wesleyan and ultimately dropped the CCIW Tournament championship game to the Titans.
 
Illinois Wesleyan was second in the 2022-23 preseason poll, picking up the remaining four first-place votes and 58 points to finish right behind MU. The Titans won seven of their final eight games a year ago, including two league tournament games and a first-round NCAA Tournament bout over DePauw. 
 
Carroll follows in third place in Thursday’s poll with 49 points. The Pioneers won 19 games last season, their most successful campaign since a 19-5 mark in 2007-08. CU’s 10 CCIW wins a year ago were its most since going 11-5 in 1991-92.
 
The fourth slot in the preseason rankings goes to Wheaton. The Thunder compiled 43 points and hopes to build on last season’s fifth-place showing, which included a CCIW Tournament quarterfinal victory over North Park.
 
Augustana and North Park tied for fifth with 33 points apiece. NPU will take the floor in its season opener on Friday, Nov. 11 for the first time under new head coach Annie Radenkovich.
 
Carthage was seventh (21 points), North Central slotted eighth (18 points) and Elmhurst (eight points) rounded out the poll.
 
Three CCIW squads – Elmhurst (at Aurora), Carroll (vs. MSOE) and Millikin (at Beloit) will begin the season on Tuesday, Nov. 8. The first night of league action is set for Nov. 30.