DENVER The Western Athletic Conference announced its womens basketball preseason poll and all-WAC teams, as voted on by the 10 head coaches in the league. For the second-straight season, Louisiana Tech was picked to win the WAC, while Lady Techster senior Cheryl Ford was selected the WACs preseason player of the year.
Louisiana Tech, the defending regular season and tournament champions, received nine first place votes and 81 points. Rice captured second place with 72 points, and Hawaii took third place with 64 votes. With 55 points Tulsa was voted fourth with San Jose State (43) and SMU (41) following closely behind in fifth and sixth place, respectively. Fresno State took seventh (39), while Nevada (26) was ranked eighth. Rounding out the poll, UTEP (18) was voted ninth followed by Boise State (11).
The coaches also voted on a first and second preseason all-WAC team. Louisiana Tech senior center Cheryl Ford, last seasons player of the year, leads the list of first team honorees along with Lady Techster junior guard Amber Obaze. Fresno State senior guard Lindsay Logan was also named to the first team after ending last season tied for third in the league in scoring, averaging 15.0 ppg. San Jose State junior guard Cricket Williams also earned first team honors after leading the WAC in scoring (18.0 ppg) and steals (3.26 spg). Nevada senior Kate Smith rounds out the first team. Smith was tied with Logan in scoring last season (15.0 ppg) and is ninth among the WAC career leaders in total free throws (384).
Second-team selections included April Atuaia (Hawaii), Allison Curtin (Tulsa), Johnetta Hayes (Rice), Christen Roper (Hawaii) and Alyssa Shriver (Tulsa).
The 2002-03 season begins Nov. 10 when Louisiana Tech travels to Lubbock, Texas, to face Texas Tech.
2002-03 Preseason Womens Basketball Coaches Poll
Rank Teams(1st Place) Points
1. Louisiana Tech (9) 81
2. Rice (1) 72
3. Hawaii 64
4. Tulsa 55
5. San Jose State 43
6. SMU 41
7. Fresno State 39
8. Nevada 26
9. UTEP 18
10. Boise State 11
Preseason All-WAC TeamsFirst Team Cheryl Ford, Sr. C, Louisiana Tech
Lindsay Logan, Sr., G, Fresno St.
Amber Obaze, Jr., G, Louisiana Tech
Kate Smith, Sr., F/C, Nevada
Cricket Williams, Jr., G, San Jose St.
Second TeamApril Atuaia, Jr., G, Hawaii
Allison Curtin, Sr., G, Tulsa
Johnetta Hayes, Jr., C, Rice
Christen Roper, Sr., C, Hawaii
Alyssa Shriver, Sr., C, Tulsa
Player of the Year: Cheryl Ford, Louisiana Tech