NEWPORT NEWS, Va. - The George Washington women's basketball team, the defending A-10 champion and 2015-16 A-10 preseason favorite, is ranked No. 21 in the Associated Press and Preseason USA Today Coaches Poll. Dayton, which is coming off an appearance in the Elite Eight last season, also received votes in both polls.

Tabbed the preseason favorite to win the Atlantic 10 at Media Day last week, GW is coming off a record-breaking season in 2014-15 in which it finished 29-4 overall, setting a program record for victories, and posted a 15-1 mark in A-10 play to win its 14th regular-season title. The Colonials downed Saint Louis, Fordham and Dayton in the A-10 Championship to win their fifth league crown and first since 2003 while earning their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2008.

Under the direction of fourth-year head coach Jonathan Tsipis, the reigning A-10 Coach of the Year, the Colonials will open the season ranked for the first time since the start of the 2007-08 campaign, when they were slotted 13th following a trip to the Sweet 16.

George Washington and Dayton were both represented on the Atlantic 10 Preseason First Team All-Conference as reigning A-10 Player of the Jonquel Jones of George Washington was joined by teammate Caira Washington on the first team. Dayton’s Amber Deane was also a member of the first team.

The Flyers tip-off the 2015-16 season on November 13 hosting Yale, while George Washington opens at home against Grambling State on November 14.