MARION, Ind. -- The NAIA released its first women's basketball poll of the season and Indiana Wesleyan University is ranked No. 14 in the Division II Top-25 Coaches' Preseason Poll.

The Wildcats return four starters and 81-percent of their scoring from last year's team that went 24-10 and advanced to the NAIA Sweet 16. Last season's bid to the national tournament marked the seventh straight for IWU.

Defending national champion Morningside (Iowa) College is once again on top of the rankings with 15 of 16 first place votes for 436 points. Northwestern (Iowa) College is second at 413 points and Davenport (Mich.) University is third with the final first place vote and 409 points.

Indiana Wesleyan earned 233 points in the initial poll of the season and is one of four Mid-Central College Conference programs ranked.

The Wildcats will once again have to navigate a difficult schedule with two conference games apiece versus No. 8-ranked Bethel (Ind.) College, No. 16-ranked University of Saint Francis (Ind.), No. 23-ranked Taylor (Ind.) University the second team in the receiving votes section Huntington (Ind.) University.

Indiana Wesleyan will be led by 2008-09 NAIA All-American Honorable Mention selection Elaine Hessel. The junior forward average 16.4 points and 5.6 rebounds while shooting 60.9-percent from the field.

The season opens in less than two weeks when Indiana Wesleyan hosts Viterbo (Wis.) University at 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 7 in Luckey Arena.

CLICK HERE for NAIA Women's Basketball Division II Top-25 Coaches' Preseason Poll