McMaster women, Ottawa men open at No. 1 in basketball

Nov. 3, 2015

OTTAWA (CIS) - The McMaster Marauders women and Ottawa Gee-Geesmen top the first CIS basketball rankings of the season.

In women's basketball, the Marauders open at No. 1 for the first time since 2006-07, when they topped the first 10 coaches' polls of the season. McMaster hadn't reached No. 1 since.

The Marauders received 28 first-place votes and 522 points in the inaugural poll of 2015-16 to distance No. 2 Saskatchewan (468 points / 2 first-place votes), No. 3 McGill (446 / 14), No. 4 Ryerson (356) and No. 5 Saint Mary's (339).

The reigning five-time national champion Windsor Lancers, who topped all 13 weekly rankings last season and who had opened at No. 1 each of the past three years, settled for ninth place after receiving only one first-place nod.

McMaster, an OUA quarter-finalist last winter, went a perfect 6-0 in preseason action this fall, including a 5-0 record against CIS competition. The Marauders kick off conference play Wednesday night when they host No. 6 Brock.

On the men's side, Ottawa debuts at No. 1 for the first time in program history. The Gee-Gees topped the national rankings for four straight weeks last season, in January and February.

In the first poll of 2015-16, Ottawa merited 11 first-place votes and 401 points to edge the defending five-time CIS champion Carleton Ravens, who earned 14 first-place nods and 372 points. Carleton had opened at No. 1 each of the past nine years.

Rounding out the leading quintet are No. 3 McGill (365 points / 13 first-place votes), No. 4 Brock (336 / 7) and No. 5 Ryerson (221).

The Gee-Gees, national finalists each of the past two campaigns, posted an 8-1 record versus CIS rivals in the preseason, their lone loss coming against McGill on Sunday, 74-70. Ottawa wraps up exhibition play Tuesday night in Bloomington, Ind., against NCAA foe Indiana University, before returning home on Friday to face Nipissing in its league opener.

NOTES: Regina, in 2011-12, was the last team other than Windsor to open at No. 1 in women's basketball... Laval, in 2005-06, was the last program other than Carleton to debut on top in men's hoops.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

(regular season record) / votes (first-place votes) / (previous ranking)

1. McMaster (0-0) / 522 points (28) / (-)  
2. Saskatchewan (0-0) / 468 (2) / (-)  
3. McGill (0-0) / 446 (14) / (-)  
4. Ryerson (0-0) / 356 / (-)  
5. Saint Maryâ??s (0-0) / 339 / (-)  
6. Brock (0-0) / 304 (1) / (-)  
7. Regina (0-0) / 267 / (-)  
8. Laval (0-0) / 234 / (-)  
9. Windsor (0-0) / 216 (1) / (-)  
10. Alberta (0-0) / 148 / (-)

Other teams receiving votes: Concordia (85), Queenâ??s (61).

MEN'S BASKETBALL

(regular season record) / votes (first-place votes) / (previous ranking)

1. Ottawa (0-0) / 401 points (11) / (-)

2. Carleton (0-0) / 372 (14) / (-)

3. McGill (0-0) / 365 (13) / (-)

4. Brock (0-0) / 336 (7) / (-)

5. Ryerson (0-0) / 221 / (-)

6. Western (0-0) / 186 (1) / (-)

7. Saskatchewan (0-0) / 165 (1) / (-)

8. McMaster (0-0) / 162 / (-)

9. Calgary (0-0) / 120 / (-)

10. UBC (0-0) / 116 / (-)

Other teams receiving votes: Dalhousie (37), Concordia (35).

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