Basketball: Wolf Pack women picked sixth by WAC coaches

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