DENVER ? The Western Athletic Conference announced its women’s basketball preseason poll and all-WAC teams, as voted on by the nine head coaches in the league. Boise State was selected to win the WAC, while Bronco junior Jessica Thompson was tabbed the league’s preseason Player of the Year.
Boise State, the 2006-07 WAC regular season co-champion and tournament winner, received seven first place votes and 63 points. Nevada captured second place with 52 points, receiving one first-place vote. Louisiana Tech took third place with 50 points, receiving the one remaining first-place vote. With 39 points, Fresno State was voted fourth. New Mexico State (35) and Hawai’i (31) followed closely behind in fifth and sixth place, respectively. Utah State (28) and San Jose State (15) finished seventh and eighth, respectively, while Idaho (11) was ranked ninth.
The coaches also voted on preseason first and second all-WAC teams. Boise State junior guard, 2007 WAC Tournament MVP, leads the list of first-teamers. Nevada junior guard Dellena Criner and Hawai’i senior forward Tanya Smith, 2006-07 first team all-WAC honorees, also earned spots on the preseason team. New Mexico State forward Sherell Neal and Fresno State guard Tierre Wilson round out the first team.
Second-team selections include Shanavia Dowdell (Louisiana Tech), Brandi Fitzgerald (Nevada), Tasha Harris (Boise State), Katie Madison (Idaho) and Taylor Richards (Utah State).
Boise State shared the 2006-07 regular season title with Louisiana tech, but advanced to the NCAA Tournament after capturing its first-ever Western Athletic Conference Tournament title. Nevada also advanced to postseason play for the first time in team history last season, earning a WNIT berth.
2007-08 Preseason Women’s Basketball Coaches Poll
Rank Teams (1st Place Votes) Points
1. Boise State (7) 63
2. Nevada (1) 52
3. Louisiana Tech (1) 50
4. Fresno State 39
5. New Mexico State 35
6. Hawai’i 31
7. Utah State 28
8. San Jose State 15
9. Idaho 11
Preseason All-WAC Teams
First Team Second Team
Dellena Criner, Jr., G, Nevada Shanavia Dowdell, So., F, La. Tech
Sherell Neal, Sr., F, New Mexico St. Brandi Fitzgerald, Sr., G, Nevada
Tanya Smith, Sr., F, Hawai’i Tasha Harris, Sr., G, Boise State
Jessica Thompson, Jr., G, Boise St. Katie Madison, So., P, Idaho
Tierre Wilson, Sr., G, Fresno State Taylor Richards, Sr., G, Utah State
Player of the Year: Jessica Thompson, Jr., G, Boise State