Oct. 5, 2006

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio State women's basketball team, ranked in the Top 10 in several preseason polls, is rated No. 3 by Slam Magazine in its 2006-07 Preseason Poll. The Buckeyes also are ranked in the Top 10 by Athlon (No. 5), Lindy's (No. 10) and Street and Smith (No. 6).

Ohio State opponents in the 2006-07 schedule make up a good portion of all four polls, headed by defending Big 12 champion Oklahoma. The Sooners are positioned at No. 3 by Athlon and Street and Smith, while Slam has slated OU at No. 4. The Buckeyes play at Oklahoma Dec. 20.

LSU, which handed Ohio State its only home loss in 2005-06, is ranked as high as No. 9 (Athlon). The Buckeyes return to home-and-home series with the Lady Tigers Dec. 10.

USC (Nov. 19) and Kentucky (Jan. 6) both visit Columbus this season. The Women of Troy sit at No. 16 in Lindy's rankings and the Wildcats are rated as high at 14th by Athlon.

In the Big Ten, Purdue, Michigan State and Iowa are ranked. In Lindy's poll, the Boilermakers fall in at No. 11, the Spartans landed a No. 20 standing and Iowa broke in at No. 24.

Ohio State/ Opponents in 2006 Preseason Polls

Athlon
3. Oklahoma
5. OHIO STATE
9. LSU
14. Kentucky
16. Purdue

Lindy's
6. Oklahoma
10. OHIO STATE
11. Purdue
12. LSU
16. USC
18. Kentucky
20. Michigan State
24. Iowa

SLAM
3. OHIO STATE
4. Oklahoma

Street & Smith
3. Oklahoma
6. OHIO STATE
13. LSU
15. Kentucky
22. Purdue
25. USC