Mizzou women’s basketball will open the season ranked d No. 24 in The Associated Press preseason poll. It’s the first time Mizzou has cracked the preseason rankings since 1984 and the fourth time in program history.

Mizzou returns four Tigers from a season ago who started at least 24 games in redshirt senior Lindsey Cunningham, SEC Freshman of the Year Sophie Cunningham, senior Sierra Michaelis and sophomore Cierra Porter. Mizzou spent eight consecutive weeks in the AP Top 25 poll during the 2015-16 campaign, the longest run for the program in more than 30 years.

The Tigers are coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance and their first NCAA Tournament victory since 2001 after taking down 7-seeded BYU in the opening round as a No. 10 seed.

Mizzou opens exhibition play Tuesday against Central Missouri. The regular season officially tips off Nov. 11 when the Tigers take on Abilene Christian in the Preseason WNIT. Tip off for both contests is slated for 7 p.m. at Mizzou Arena.

Story courtesy-Mizzou Athletics