Oct. 24, 2008

UCLA, with 48 points, was picked fifth in the Pac-10 Conference pre-season poll of women's basketball coaches. First-year head coach Nikki Caldwell's Bruins will host a couple of exhibition games on Nov. 2 and Nov. 9, before opening up the regular season on Nov. 16 in Pauley Pavilion against Cal State Fullerton.

Receiving six first-place votes and 78 total points, eight-time defending Conference champion and 2008 NCAA Championship finalist Stanford was voted the favorite to win the 2008-09 Pac-10 women's basketball title. The Cardinal edged out California, who collected four first-place votes and 76 points to place second in the poll.

Rounding out the top five in the poll is Arizona State with 65 points, USC with 55 points and UCLA, who collected 48 points. Oregon nabbed sixth in the rating with 40 points, followed by Washington (27), Oregon State (25), Washington State (20) and Arizona (16).

The Pac-10 had three teams earn NCAA Tournament bids last year, the sixth-consecutive year at least three league teams earned invites. It is the ninth-straight year and ninth overall that Stanford has been picked the favorite to win the league since the poll's inception in 1998-99.

Following are the results of the preseason coaches' poll; coaches are not allowed to vote for their own teams (points 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1, first-place votes are in parentheses).

2008-09 PAC-10 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACHES' POLL Team (First Place) Points 1. Stanford (6) 78 2. California (4) 76 3. Arizona State 65 4. USC 55 5. UCLA 48 6. Oregon 40 7. Washington 27 8. Oregon State 25 9. Washington State 20 10.Arizona 16