Cal State San Marcos has been selected as the preseason favorites in the 2022-23 CCAA coaches poll.
 
The Cougars collected 142 points and 10 of 12 first-place votes. CSUSM went 22-4 in 2021-22 and captured the CCAA regular-season title with a 19-1 record (.950 winning%). The Cougars will return three starters for coach Renee Jimenez, including 2021-22 CCAA Newcomer of the Year, Jordan Vasquez (13.7 points per game, 9.3 rebounds), and first team All-CCAA selection Dynnah Buckner (13.2 ppg, 4.5 rpg). Second team All-CCAA selection Kelsey Forrester (11.2 ppg, .395 3pt%) will once again be in the backcourt along with Chico State transfer Charity Gallegos (13.8 ppg, 5.1 apg).
 
Cal State LA and Cal State Dominguez Hills each earned one of the remaining first-place votes.
 
The Golden Eagles were voted to the No. 2 spot in the CCAA preseason coaches poll with 128 points. Cal State LA brings back a deep and talented squad that includes five of its six leading scorers from a 2021-22 team that went 12-7 in CCAA play. Nicole Flennaugh was the CCAA's top 3-point shooter. During her sophomore campaign, she connected on 90 shots from behind the arc (3.5 per game) to lead the league and rank second in NCAA Division II. The Golden Eagles will also return 2021-22 CCAA Freshman of the Year Lily Buggs (14.5 ppg, 8.3 rpg) and the conference's leading rebounder, Jada Johnson (10.3 rpg).
 
Cal State Dominguez Hills (111 points) will return nearly the entire roster, including both All-CCAA selections, to a team that earned the No. 4 seed in the 2021-22 CCAA Tournament. First team All-CCAA selection Asia Jordan led the Toros in scoring (13.6 ppg) and rebounding (8.5 rpg) as a freshman. Auren Isaacson was CSUDH's other All-CCAA selection and second-leading scorer. She averaged 13.0 ppg and shot .941 percent from the free throw line.
 
Cal Poly Pomona finished fourth in the preseason coaches poll with 103 points. The Broncos will look to return to the postseason after missing out on the CCAA Tournament for the first time in coach Danelle Bishop's 11 seasons. Four of the five starters are back for the Broncos, including leading scorer and first team All-CCAA selection Ally Bates (12.3 ppg, 5.2 rpg, .393 3%).
 
Chico State earned 87 points to place fifth in the preseason poll. The Wildcats reached the semifinals of the 2022 CCAA Tournament and will bring back six of their seven leading scorers. Chico State also added 2022 CCAA Tournament MVP Zhane Duckett as a transfer from Cal State East Bay.
 
It was a very close vote for sixth place as Cal State East Bay edged Cal Poly Humboldt, 73-70.
 
The Pioneers are coming off a season in which they won the CCAA Tournament as the No. 2 seed and went on to host the NCAA West Regional, where they reached the championship game. Second team All-CCAA selection and leading scorer Delia Moore (11.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.8 apg) is one of three returning starters. She will be joined by Grace Campbell (6.3 ppg, .443 fg%) in the backcourt and by leading rebounder Taylor Linzie (7.9 rpg) in the frontcourt.
 
Cal Poly Humboldt was in the hunt for a playoff berth until the last weekend, and the Jacks hope that experience will translate to more success in 2022-23. Humboldt will return three starters, including Madison Parry. The forward earned first team All-CCAA honors as a freshman after finishing third in the conference in scoring (15.8 ppg) and second in rebounding (9.4 rpg).
 
Coming in next in the poll was Stanislaus State in eighth (60 points) and San Francisco State in ninth (53 points). The preseason poll was rounded out by Sonoma State (49), Cal State San Bernardino (34), and Cal State Monterey Bay (26). The CCAA's leading scorer in the regular season, Lauryn Pointer (15.9 ppg), will be back for her senior season with the Otters.
 
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Many of these teams will play exhibition games over the weeks leading up to their regular season openers on Friday, Nov. 11. CCAA conference play begins on Saturday, Nov. 26.
 
All 12 teams will be vying to finish in the top half of the league to earn one of the six spots in the CCAA Basketball Tournament in Turlock on Mar. 2-4. To learn more about the CCAA Women's Basketball Tournament, click here.
 
CCAA Preseason Watchlist (returning first or second team All-CCAA selections)
Ally Bates (Sr., G, Cal Poly Pomona)
Dynnah Buckner (Sr., G, Cal State San Marcos)
Lily Buggs (So., G, Cal State LA)
Zhane Duckett (Jr., G, Chico State)
Nicole Flennaugh (Jr., G, Cal State LA)
Kelsey Forrester (Sr., G, Cal State San Marcos)
Charity Gallegos (So., G, Cal State San Marcos)
Auren Issacson  (Jr., G, Cal State Dominguez Hills)
Jada Johnson (Sr., F, Cal State LA)
Asia Jordan (So., F, Cal State Dominguez Hills)
Delia Moore (Sr., G, Cal State East Bay)
Madison Parry (So., F, Cal Poly Humboldt)
Lauryn Pointer (Sr., G, Cal State Monterey Bay)
Mina Tameliau  (Jr., G, Cal State San Marcos)
Jordan Vasquez (Jr., F, Cal State San Marcos)