Mizzou women crack Associated Press preseason top 25

Despite losing a pair of forwards to preseasons injuries, Missouri will open the 2016-17 season ranked for the first time in 32 years.

The Tigers check in 24th on Tuesday in The Associated Press preseason poll. It’s the fourth time in program history and the first since 1984.

Mizzou — which went 22-10 last season, including the program’s first NCAA Tournament victory since 2001 — spent eight consecutive weeks in the AP poll last season and returns four starters.

Senior Lindsey Cunningham returns at point guard along with her sister and reigning SEC Freshman of the Year Sophie Cunningham, senior sharpshooter Sierra Michaelis and sophomore Cierra Porter.

Senior forward Jordan Frericks, one of two Tigers along with Sophie Cunningham to start all 32 games last season, suffered a torn ACL last month and will miss the season after surgery.

She has led Mizzou in rebounds for three consecutive seasons.

Only weeks later, junior forward Bri Porter also tore her ACL, the fifth time she’s suffered such an injury. Her injury is career-threatening.

Coach Robin Pingeton’s Tigers open the exhibition schedule Tuesday against Central Missouri and the regular season tips off Nov. 11 against Abilene Christian in the Preseason WNIT.

The top 25 teams in The Associated Press’ preseason 2016-17 women’s college basketball poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, 2015-16 records, total points based on 25 points for a first-place vote through one point for a 25th-place vote and last year’s final ranking:

Others receiving votes: Michigan St. 78, Auburn 43, Texas A&M 20, Duke 16, Colorado St. 10, California 9, Creighton 9, South Florida 8, BYU 6, Temple 6, South Dakota St. 5, Belmont 4, UTEP 3, Boise St. 2, Green Bay 2, NC State 2, Chattanooga 2, Iowa St. 1, Saint Louis 1, Oregon 1.

This story was originally published November 1, 2016 at 11:35 AM with the headline "Mizzou women crack Associated Press preseason top 25."