OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Mid-America Christian University Lady Evangels have been picked to finish in the upper half of the Sooner Athletic Conference this season, as the league released its annual preseason poll today (Oct. 19).  The Lady Evangels were tabbed fourth in the 10-team poll. 

Wayland Baptist University were selected as the league favorites, followed by two-time defending NAIA national champion Oklahoma City University. 

Texas Wesleyan University came in third, followed by MACU and John Brown University in the top five. 

In the sixth spot was USAO, with Southwestern Christian University, Southwestern Assemblies of God University, St. Gregory's University and Bacone College rounding out the poll. 

The Lady Evangels, now under the direction of first-year head coach Seth Froese, are coming off consecutive winning seasons for the time since joining the NAIA in 2007. 

MACU will open the 2015-16 campaign with a pair of games at the Sterling Classic on Nov. 6-7 in Sterling, Kan.  The Lady Evangels will face Tabor College on Nov. 6 before squaring off with Sterling on Nov. 7.