DENVER - Fresno State is the preseason favorite to win the Western Athletic Conference, while Louisiana Tech senior Shanavia Dowdell was selected the WAC's Preseason Player of the Year in a vote of the league's nine head coaches, who could not vote for their own team or players.
The Bulldogs received 60 points and five first-place votes to beat out Louisiana Tech for the top spot. The Lady Techsters captured second place with 58 points and three first-place votes. Boise State took third place with 53 points and the other first-place vote. Idaho finished fourth with 39 points, followed closely by New Mexico State in fifth place with 38 points. Nevada came in at sixth place with 28 points, followed by Utah State in seventh with 24 points. Hawai'i and San Jose State tied for eighth place with 12 points apiece.
Dowdell, the reigning WAC Player of the Year, leads the list of Preseason all-WAC honorees. Joining her on the first team are Tasha Harris of Boise State, Louisiana Tech's Adrienne Johnson, Jaleesa Ross of Fresno State and New Mexico State's Madison Spence.
Second-team selections include Hayley Munro (Fresno State), Yinka Olorunnife and Derisa Taleni (Idaho), Jessica Van Hoogen (Boise State) and Lydia Whitehead (Utah State).
Fresno State and Louisiana Tech tied for the regular-season WAC title last year with 12-4 records. The Bulldogs fell in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to No. 12 California, while Louisiana Tech advanced to the second round of the WNIT.
2009-10 Preseason Women's Basketball Coaches Poll
Rank
Teams (1st-Place Votes)
Points
1
Fresno State (5)
60
2
Louisiana Tech (3)
58
3
Boise State (1)
53
4
Idaho
39
5
New Mexico State
38
6
Nevada
28
7
Utah State
24
T-8.
Hawai'i
12
T-8.
San Jose State
12
Preseason All-WAC Teams
First Team
Shanavia Dowdell, Sr., F, Louisiana Tech
Tasha Harris, Sr., G, Boise State
Adrienne Johnson, Jr., F, Louisiana Tech
Jaleesa Ross, Jr., G, Fresno State
Madison Spence, Jr., G, New Mexico State
Second Team
Hayley Munro, Jr., G/F, Fresno State
Yinka Olorunnife, Jr., P, Idaho
Derisa Taleni, Sr., G/P, Idaho
Jessica Van Hoogen, Sr., G, Boise State
Lydia Whitehead, Sr., C, Utah State
Preseason Player of the Year: Shanavia Dowdell, Louisiana Tech
