THE TEAM TO BEAT

The Bulldog women’s basketball team is picked to have another strong season.

From gobulldogs.com:

The Fresno State women’s basketball team will have a target on its backs this season as they were picked to finish first by the coaches in the WAC. The media picked the Bulldogs second behind Louisiana Tech.

Jaleesa Ross was named to the preseason first-teams by the coaches and media while Hayley Munro earned second-team honors by the coaches and media. It is the second straight year the two players have received the recognition.

“We excited about the upcoming season,” Fresno State coach Adrian Wiggins said. “We have a talented group of players who are working hard to accomplish the goals we have. Our tough nonconference games will prepare us for conference. The teams in the league are improved this year and it should be an exciting race.”

The voting for first place in the coaches’ poll was very close as the Bulldogs had five first place votes, Louisiana Tech three and Boise State one. The Bulldogs and Lady Techsters shared the WAC regular season championship last year.

Following Boise State in third place in the coaches poll, Idaho was picked to finish fourth, New Mexico State fifth, Nevada sixth, Utah State seventh and San Jose State and Hawai’i tied for eighth.

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. Dowdell was also named the preseason WAC Player of the Year by the media.

Joining Dowdell on the first team are Tasha Harris of Boise State, Louisiana Tech’s Adrienne Johnson, Ross and New Mexico State’s Madison Spence.

Second-team selections include Munro, Yinka Olorunnife and Derisa Taleni (Idaho), Jessica Van Hoogen (Boise State) and Lydia Whitehead (Utah State).

The media picked the Lady Techsters first with 14 first place votes while the Bulldogs were picked second with six first place votes. Boise State was picked third and did get one first place votes. Idaho was picked fourth, Nevada fifth, New Mexico State sixth, Utah State seventh, Hawai’i eighth and San Jose State ninth.
First-team All-WAC honors for the media included, Dowdell, Johnson, Olorunnife, Ross and Spence. Second-team honors were Crystal Boyd (New Mexico State), Harris, Munro, Taleni and Jessica Van Hoogen from Boise State.

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 Coaches 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

2009-10 Preseason Women’s Basketball Media Poll
Rank Teams (1st-Place Votes) Points
1 Louisiana Tech (14) 180
2 Fresno State (6) 167
3 Boise State (1) 136
4 Idaho 114
5 Nevada 104
6 New Mexico State 100
7 Utah State 72
8 Hawai’i 46
9 San Jose State 26

Preseason All-WAC Teams
First Team
Shanavia Dowdell, Sr., F, Louisiana Tech
Adrienne Johnson, Jr., F, Louisiana Tech
Yinka Olorunnife, Jr., P, Idaho
Jaleesa Ross, Jr., G, Fresno State
Madison Spence, Jr., G, New Mexico State

Second Team
Crystal Boyd, New Mexico State
Tasha Harris, Sr., G, Boise State
Hayley Munro, Jr., G/F, Fresno State
Derisa Taleni, Sr., G/P, Idaho
Jessica Van Hoogen, Sr., G, Boise State

Player of the Year: Shanavia Dowdell, Louisiana Tech

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