San Antonio – The Trinity Tiger women's basketball team, led by fifth-year head coach Amie Bradley, has earned a top-20 ranking in the D3hoops.com preseason poll.

The Tigers are ranked 18th in the initial Division III ranking of the 2009-10 season, returning four starters from a team that chalked up a 20-8 record last year. Last year marked Trinity's third 20-win season in the past four years.

Trinity, which has eight veteran players on this season's roster, went 12-4 in the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference, and advanced to its fifth SCAC Tournament final in seven years. The Tigers were ranked 10th nationally in scoring offense, averaging 76.6 points per contest.

Five promising newcomers are also on the Trinity roster, and the team opens its season in the friendly confines of Sams Gymnasium Nov. 20-21, with the Trinity Tip-Off Tournament. Hardin-Simmons will face the Tigers in the opener on the 20th, followed by a game against McMurry on the 21st.