Nov. 1, 2008

AUBURN - With the start of the 2008-09 season less than two weeks away, the preseason honors continue to roll in for the Auburn women's basketball teams as the Tigers were picked No. 20 in the Associated Press (AP) Preseason Top-25 poll, which was released Saturday.

The No. 20 preseason ranking is the first for the Nell Fortner-led Tigers and the first for Auburn since it was selected 22nd in the 2003-04 AP preseason poll. It is the best ranking for AU since being selected 11th in the 1999-2000 preseason poll.

The Tigers were the third of four SEC teams ranked in the preseason top-25. Tennessee took the top spot, coming in at No. 7 while Vanderbilt trailed at No. 12. LSU rounded out the SEC quartet with a No. 24 ranking. Georgia and Arkansas both received votes in the season-opening poll.

Connecticut was a near-unanimous selection as the No. 1 team, taking 44 of the available 45 first-place votes. Stanford picked up the other first-place vote and comes in at No. 2.

Auburn returns eight letterwinners and four starters from last season's squad and is set to open its season with an exhibition game against Anderson University at 2 p.m., Nov. 9 in the Beard-Eaves-Memorial Coliseum. The regular season is slated to open on the road at Alabama A&M on Nov. 14, with the home opener against Temple following on Nov. 17.

The Tigers are coming off a 20-12 campaign as well as their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2004.

Season tickets went on sale on Oct. 1. Individual packages are $50, while the family plan, which includes four tickets, is $150. Regular season-single game tickets are $5 and Auburn students are allowed in for free. Groups of 20 or more can purchase in advance for a discounted price of $2 per ticket. All exhibition games are free to the public.

For more information, please call the Athletic Department ticket office at 1-800-AUB-1957 or visit www.auburntigers.com.