WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - In the preseason coaches' poll of the California Collegiate Athletic Association (CCAA), the Cal Poly Pomona women's basketball team has been picked to repeat as conference champion.

The Broncos will officially start their 2014-15 campaign this weekend in Azusa. CPP will challenge Point Loma on Friday at 5 p.m. in the Felix Event Center on the campus of APU. At that same location, the Broncos challenge the host Cougars on Saturday in a 7 p.m. tipoff.

CPP played against Azusa Pacific last year in a non-conference game and it proved to be an exciting one, with the Broncos securing an 84-75 win in overtime.

In the CCAA preseason poll announced Wednesday, the Broncos collected 121 points and received 11 first-place votes to finish ahead of defending CCAA Tournament Champion Cal State Dominguez Hills. The Toros totaled 107 points and tallied one first-place vote.
 
Only three points separate the third and sixth place finishers. Leading the four squads was Cal State San Bernardino with 82 points, edging UC San Diego which totaled 81 points. Trailing closely were Humboldt State with 80 points and Chico State with 79 points.
 
Cal Poly Pomona is coming off of an outstanding 26-7 season, which included an NCAA West Region Championship and Division II Final Four finish. Last season marked the Broncos' third NCAA postseason appearance in reigning CCAA Coach of the Year Danelle Bishop's four years with the program.
 
The Broncos welcome back All-American players in Jada Blackwell and Ariel Marsh to lead this year's veteran squad. Blackwell, who was named the Daktronics West Region Player of the Year, led conference play with 17.8 points per game and was second among the CCAA with 9.2 rebounds per game last season. Marsh also proved to be a offensive threat in 2013-14 after averaging 17.4 points, including a CCAA-leading 2.6 three-pointers per game.
 
Five institutions — Cal Poly Pomona, Cal State East Bay, Cal State Monterey Bay, Cal State San Bernardino, and Cal State Dominguez Hills will begin regular-season tournament play on Friday, Nov. 14. All 12 institutions will begin CCAA play Friday, Dec. 5.
 
CPP debuted at No. 1 in the USA TODAY Sports Division II preseason coaches poll, while Chico State made the list of squads to watch this season.
 
The 2014 CCAA Men's and Women's Basketball Tournament will be played March 5-7 at Stockton Arena in Stockton, Calif.

2014-15 CCAA WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON COACHES' POLL
 
Institution (Points)
1. Cal Poly Pomona (121)
2. Cal State Dominguez Hills (107)
3. Cal State San Bernardino (82)
4. UC San Diego (81)
5. Humboldt State (80)
6. Chico State (79)
7. Cal State East Bay (71)
8. Cal State L.A. (61)
9. Cal State Stanislaus (41)
10. Cal State Monterey Bay (27)
11. San Francisco State (25)
12. Sonoma State (17)
 
First-Place Votes
Cal Poly Pomona (11)
Cal State Dominguez Hills (1)