NWF Women’s Hoops Tabbed Top Team in World Exposure Report Poll

NICEVILLE, Fla. – Northwest Florida State women's basketball will enter the 2021-22 season as the top team in the nation according to World Exposure Report as it announced its Preseason Top 25 on Tuesday.

Last month the publication released its annual Junior College Player Rankings with six Raiders landing on the list, including Last-Tear Poa who was dubbed the top player in the country.

In the poll, NWF was followed by Panhandle Conference foes Chipola at No. 2 and Gulf Coast at No. 18. Region VIII was also represented by Florida SouthWestern at No. 21 and Eastern Florida at No. 23.

Northwest Florida finished the 2020-21 season with a 24-2 record and claimed the first women's basketball national title in school history.

The Raiders return seven players from last season's championship squad – Noelani Cornfield, Shelbee Brown, Masengo Mutanda, Inès Piper, Last-Tear Poa, Nashani Gilbert, and Sabou Gueye.

Head coach Bart Walker enters his seventh season at the helm and has posted a 140-34 record in his time in Niceville.

Northwest Florida opens its season on Nov. 5 against Florida SouthWestern in St. Petersburg, Fla., as part of the Juco Shootout.

For more information on Northwest Florida State athletics, visit NWFRaiders.com or follow @NWFRaiders on Twitter.