DENVER - The 2006-07 all-Western Athletic Conference teams have been named, following a vote of the WAC’s head coaches.
There are only two players returning from last year’s all-WAC team. Louisiana Tech’s Shan Moore and Ty Moore were named to the first team after earning second-team honors last season. The Lady Techsters have had at least one player on the all-WAC first team since joining the WAC during the 2001-02 season. Senior Shan Moore not only made her first appearance on the all-WAC team first team, but she was also named the WAC Player of the Year. Moore is the fifth Lady Techster in six years to earn Player of the Year honors.
Five different schools were represented on the first team. There was a tie on the first team, placing six on the first team and five on the second. Louisiana Tech is represented by both Shan and Ty Moore. Nevada is represented by Dellena Criner who was second in the conference in steals (2.63) and sixth in scoring (14.8). Chantella Perera of Fresno State and Tanya Smith of Hawai`i earned their first all-WAC honors. Boise State’s Jessica Thompson rounds out the first team after averaging 14.2 ppg.
The all-WAC second teamers were Traci Graham, Nevada; Michelle Hessing, Boise State; Katie Madison, Idaho; Sherell Neal,New Mexico State and Tierre Wilson, Fresno State. This was the first all-WAC honor for all five second teamers.
The all-Freshman team contains five players from four different teams. Idaho led the way with two players, Katie Madison and Charlotte Otero. Nevada’s Marianne Lombardi, Louisiana Tech’s Shanavia Dowdell and San Jose State’s Brittany Powell were also named to the all-Freshman team.
Hawai?i’s Brittany Grice was the only returning member from the all-Defensive team. Grice is joined by two Lady Techsters, seniors Amber Metoyer and Ty Moore. Nevada’s Dellena Criner and New Mexico State’s Sherell Neal were the final two members of the all-Defensive team.
Idaho’s Katie Madison earned the school’s first WAC Newcomer of the Year honor. Madison led the WAC in scoring in league games (18.9 ppg) and was fourth in rebounding (8.6 rpg).
Boise State’s Gordy Presnell captured his first Coach of the Year honor, leading the Broncos to a 12-4 league record in his second season as head coach. Presnell’s Broncos became the first team besides Louisiana Tech to earn the top seed in the WAC Tournament in the last six years.
The 2007 WAC Tournament will be held March 6-10, at the Pan American Center in Las Cruces, N.M. The women’s tournament schedule includes one first round game on March 6, four quarterfinal games on March 7, semifinals on March 9 and the championship on March 10.
The complete WAC all-conference team and additional honors follows.
2006-07 All-Western Athletic Conference Team
First Team All-WAC
Dellena Criner, Nevada
Shan Moore, Louisiana Tech
Ty Moore, Louisian Tech
Chantella Perera, Fresno State
Tanya Smith, Hawai?i
Jessica Thompson, Boise State
Second Team All-WAC
Traci Graham, Nevada
Michelle Hessing, Boise State
Katie Madison, Idaho
Sherell Neal, New Mexico State
Tierre Wilson, Fresno State
Player of the Year: Shan Moore, Louisiana Tech
Coach of the Year: Gordy Presnell, Boise State
Newcomer of the Year: Katie Madison, Idaho
All-Defensive Team
Amber Metoyer, Louisiana Tech
Dellena Criner, Nevada
Brittany Grice, Hawai?i
Ty Moore, Louisiana Tech
Sherell Neal, New Mexico State
All-Freshman Team
Shanavia Dowdell, Louisiana Tech
Marianne Lombardi, Nevada
Katie Madison, Idaho
Charlotte Otero, Idaho
Brittany Powell, San Jose State