DENVER - The 2003-04 all-Western Athletic Conference teams have been named, following a vote of the WACs head coaches.
The first team has one repeat performer from last year with Louisiana Techs Trina Frierson making her second appearance on the all-WAC first team. Teammate Amisha Carter earned first team honors for the first time. Carter was also named the WAC Player of the Year. Carter gave the Lady Techsters their third Player of the Year honor in as many seasons. Cheryl Ford earned back-to-back honors.
Hawaii senior Jade Abele joins two freshmen, Rices Lauren Neaves and Tulsas Jillian Robbins on the first team. Abele is third in the league in scoring, averaging 14.2 ppg. Neaves and Robbins both also earned spots on the all-freshman and all-defensive teams. Neaves leads the league in blocks with 2.44 bpg. Robbins is sixth in the league in scoring and second in rebounding.
The all-WAC second teamers were Lindsey Maynard, Rice; Amber Obaze, Louisiana Tech; Erica Smith-Taylor, Louisiana Tech; Cricket Williams, San Jose State and Vaida Zagurskyte, UTEP. Smith-Taylor and Obaze both earned second team honors last season. Williams earned first team honors in 2001-02 and 2002-03.
The all-Freshmen team contains two all-WAC honorees in Robbins and Neaves. Hawaiis Janevia Taylor, UTEPs Charnette Phelps and Boise States Michelle Hessing round out the all-Freshmen team.
Tulsas Jillian Robbins earned the schools first WAC Newcomer of the Year honor. Robbins, who also earned first-team all-WAC honors, is second in the league in blocks, averaging 1.69 bpg.
Louisiana Techs Kurt Budke captured his second-straight Coach of the Year honor, leading the Lady Techsters to a 17-1 league record and a No. 6 national ranking. Budke is in his second season at Louisiana Tech after taking over for legendary coach Leon Barmore. The Lady Techsters enter the tournament with a 16-game winning streak.
The 2004 McCaffrey WAC Tournament will be held March 9-13, at the Save Mart Center in Fresno, Calif. The womens tournament schedule includes two first round games on March 9, four quarterfinal games on March 10, semifinals on March 12 and the championship on March 13.
The complete WAC all-conference team and additional honors follows.
2003-04 All-Western Athletic Conference Team
First Team all-WAC
Jade Abele, Hawai F 6-0 Jr.
Amisha Carter, LTU F 6-2 Sr.
Trina Frierson, LTU F 6-2 Sr.
Lauren Neaves, Rice F 6-2 Fr.
Jillian Robbins, Tulsa F 6-1 Fr.
Second Team all-WAC
Lindsey Maynard, Rice F 5-10 Sr.
Amber Obaze, LTU G 5-9 Sr.
E. Smith-Taylor, LTU G 5-10 Jr.
Cricket Williams, SJSU G 5-7 Jr.
Vaida Zagurskyte, UTEP G 5-9 Jr.
Player of the Year: Amisha Carter, LTU
Coach of the Year: Kurt Budke, LTU
Newcomer of the Year: Jillian Robbins, TU
2003-04 All-Defensive Team
Amisha Carter, LTU F 6-2 Sr.
Amber Obaze, LTU G 5-9 Sr.
Lauren Neaves, Rice F 6-2 Fr.
Jillian Robbins, Tulsa F 6-1 Fr.
E. Smith-Taylor, LTU G 5-10 Jr.
2003-04 All-Freshman Team
Michelle Hessing, BSU C 6-2 Fr.
Lauren Neaves, Rice F 6-2 Fr.
Charnette Phelps, UTEP F 6-1 Fr.
Jillian Robbins, Tulsa F 6-1 Fr.
Janevia Taylor, Hawaii G 5-5 Fr.