BEAVERTON, Ore. ? The Alaska Anchorage women's basketball team has been tabbed the No. 5-ranked squad in NCAA Division II according to the Women's Division II Bulletin Preseason Top 25 rankings.

Defending national champion Northern Kentucky is No. 1, followed by California (Pa.), West Texas A&M, Franklin Pierce (N.H.) and UAA. The Seawolves are the only Great Northwest Athletic Conference or West Region team in the preseason rankings.

The WDIIB Preseason Player of the Year is Johanna Leedham, a junior center at Franklin Pierce, which UAA defeated in last season's NCAA Quarterfinals.

The Seawolves ? coming off a 30-5 record and an NCAA Semifinals loss to Northern Kentucky ? return six letterwinners, including two-time GNAC Player of the Year Rebecca Kielpinski, a 6-2 senior center.

UAA opens the 2008-09 campaign at Disney's Division II East Coast Tip-Off Classic in Orlando, Fla., Oct. 31-Nov. 2, where it will play Columbus (Ga.) State, Bentley (Mass.) and Lake Superior (Mich.) State.

Women's Division II Bulletin
Preseason Top 25
1. Northern Kentucky
2. California (Pa.)
3. West Texas A&M
4. Franklin Pierce
5. Alaska Anchorage
6. Washburn
7. Michigan Tech
8. Tusculum
9. Stonehill
10. Drury
11. Indiana (Pa.)
12. Delta St.
13. Wingate
14. Central Oklahoma
15. Hillsdale
16. Holy Family
17. Augustana
18. Empora St.
19. USC Aiken
20. Arkansas Tech
21. Clayton St.
22. Neb. Kearney
23. Nova Southeastern
24. West Georgia
25. Shepherd