TEAM-BY-TEAM NOTES
Boise State Broncos (11-6, 3-2 WAC)
Boise State returned home for the first time in 33 days last week sweeping a pair of WAC games over Utah State, 85-77, and previously undefeated (in league) Nevada by the score of 82-74 ... the victories kept the Broncos undefeated at home this season at 7-0 and extended their win streak to 10 at Taco Bell Arena ... they enter this week’s game at Hawaii on Thursday at 11-6 overall and 3-2 in league ... Boise State has won three consecutive conference games by scoring 80 plus points ... Tasha Harris continues to lead the Broncos in scoring at 16.5 points per game and is now 34 points shy of joining teammate Jessica Thompson in the 1,000 career points club, she currently has 966 points. Thompson reached the milestone at New Mexico State Jan. 10 and now has 1,039 career points while averaging 15.3 ppg this year.
Fresno State Bulldogs (9-8, 4-0 WAC)
Adrian Wiggins is two wins away from his 100th victory of his career ... the seven-game win streak is the second longest win streak in school history ... Jaleesa Ross had a career high 20 points against Hawaii ... Ross is shooting 50 percent from the 3-point line over the last five games ...The Bulldogs are outscoring their opponents 71-57 over the last five games.
Hawai?i Rainbow Wahine (7-10, 1-3 WAC)
Hawai?i went 1-1 last week, dropping a 74-54 decision at league-leader Fresno State before defeating San Jose State 70-54 in California ... UH’s Saundra Cariaga led the team in scoring over the two games, averaging 12.5 points per game ... senior center Tanya Smith also averaged double digits last week at 10.5 points per game ... Smith also registered a team-high 19 rebounds on the week ... the Rainbow Wahine have now played four straight road games to open Western Athletic Conference play ... the team now returns home to host its first WAC games of the season this week.
Idaho Vandals (2-15, 1-4 WAC)
The win over Saturday gave Idaho its first WAC win since beating San Jose State in last year’s season finale ... after starting the non-conference season out slowly, sophomore Katie Madison has scored in double digits in each of the team’s WAC games so far this season, five in row, including two double-doubles and two 20-point efforts ... Madison now has 13 double-doubles and 17 games of 20+ points in her 45-game Idaho career ... the win against Utah State gave Mike Divilbiss his 390th career win and his 80th at Idaho ... Yinka Olorunnife’s double-double against Utah State was the first of her career and makes her the second Idaho true freshman to complete the feat this season ... fellow freshman Therese Riedel put up 16 points and 13 boards in an early-season loss to Portland.
La Tech Lady Techsters (8-9, 2-2 WAC)
The Lady Techsters went 1-0 last week, picking up a key 57-50 win over New Mexico State ... Louisiana Tech overcame a double digit first half deficit to defeat New Mexico State Saturday night at the Thomas Assembly Center, handing the Aggies their first Western Athletic Conference loss of the season ... Tech recorded its best defensive effort of the season in limiting New Mexico State (13-4, 3-1 WAC) to only 30 percent shooting, including only 24 percent in a second half that saw the Lady Techsters outscore the Aggies 34-21 ... JoKeirra Sneed tied her career-high with 20 points while adding 11 rebounds for her 12th double double of the season while Shanavia Dowdell added 15 points and 14 rebounds. Tarkeisha Wysinger chipped in with seven points and 10 rebounds.
Nevada Wolf Pack (12-5, 3-1 WAC)
Nevada opened the Western Athletic Conference season 3-0 for the first time in program history ... Jennifer Gross narrowly missed recording her first career double-double against Boise State, scoring a career-best 10 points and adding eight rebounds ... Nevada is 8-1 at home this season and has not lost at home since Nov. 11 ... Brandi Fitzgerald (149 career steals) is one steal away from 150 career steals and looks to join teammate Dellena Criner as the only two active Nevada players with at least 150 career steals ... Nevada, who returns home this week hosting La Tech and New Mexico State, had recorded 198 home victories in program history and is two wins shy of 200 wins at home.
New Mexico State Aggies (13-4, 3-1 WAC)
New Mexico State is 3-0 coming off a loss this season ... Senior forward Sherell Neal, the WAC’s active leading scorer, moved into 11th place on the school’s all-time scoring list with 1,227 career points ... New Mexico State has held its last three opponents under 40 percent shooting from the field, including La. Tech to 29.1 percent shooting on Jan. 19 ... the Aggies are 4-0 in games decided by five points or less ... NMSU is leading the WAC in scoring defense, field goal percent defense, 3-point field goal percent defense and blocked ... the Aggies are shooting 40.9 percent from the field this season.
San Jose Spartans (1-15, 0-3 WAC)
Natalie White continued to lead San Jose State in scoring with 19 points against Hawaii Saturday evening ... she has scored in double figures in 15 of the Spartans 16 games this season ... in the game, she was 9-of-16 from the field.
Utah State Aggies (6-11, 2-3 WAC)
Utah State went 0-2 on the week falling at Boise State, 85-77, on Thursday and falling at Idaho, 70-64, in overtime on Saturday ... senior forward Jamelah Brown scored a career-high 24 points and senior center Jenny Gross recorded her second career double-doubles with a season-high 17 points and 10 rebounds in the loss at Boise State ... Gross posted the first double-double of the season by any Utah State player and Brown¹s 24 points in a season game-high for USU ... junior center Ndoumbe Diop scored a career-high 12 points and had a career-high three blocks at Idaho ... she was one of five players to score in double figures while Gross was one rebound short of her second double-double this season as she scored 10 points and added a team-high nine rebounds.
WAC NOTES
NEVADA’S CRINER NAMED WAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nevada junior Dellena Criner has been named the Western Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for her play during the week of Jan. 14-20. Criner, from Oakland, Calif. (Fremont HS), led Nevada to a 1-1 record on the road last week, helping the team to a 70-54 win over Idaho before dropping an 82-74 decision at Boise State. The junior guard scored a game-high 29 points in Nevada’s win over Idaho on Thursday night. She went a perfect 10-for-10 from the charity stripe, connected on 8-of-10 shots from the field, and hit 3-of-4 shots from long range. She also added four steals and three rebounds in the Pack’s win over the Vandals. Criner followed up her performance at Idaho with a career-high 33-point effort at Boise State on Saturday. She knocked down 10-of-17 shots from the field and 10-of-13 from the free throw line against the Broncos. On the week, Criner averaged 31.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals and 2.0 assists per game. She registered a 66.7 percent clip (18-27) from the field and connected on 87.0 percent (20-23) of her free throws. Criner hit 6-of-11 shots from beyond the arc (54.5 percent). Criner currently leads the WAC in scoring at 18.1 points per game. She needs just 16 points to score her 1,000th career point for the Wolf Pack.
Other nominees included: Boise State guard Tasha Harris led the Broncos in scoring last week, helping the team to a 2-0 record at home ... Fresno State guard Tierre Wilson flirted with a triple-double in a win over Hawai?i ... Idaho forward Yinka Olorunnife earned her first career double-double as she scored 23 points with 10 rebounds to help the Vandals to their first WAC win of the season ... Louisiana Tech forward JoKeirra Sneed tied her career high with 20 points in a win over New Mexico State ... New Mexico State senior Sherell Neal scored 22 points and pulled down 12 rebounds against Louisiana Tech
FRESNO STATE SITS ATOP WAC STANDINGS
Fresno State now sits all alone atop the Western Athletic Conference standings with a 4-0 record. The Bulldogs have now won seven straight and hold an overall 9-8 record. New Mexico State and Nevada are currently tied for second with identical 3-1 marks. NMSU and Nevada each suffered their first WAC losses of the season, falling to Louisiana Tech and Boise State, respectively. With a pair of wins over Utah State and Nevada, Boise State now holds the fourth spot in the league standings at 3-2. Louisiana Tech is fifth after downing New Mexico State last week. Utah State dropped to sixth after losing a pair of games last week. Hawai?i is yet to play a WAC game at home and holds a 1-3 record for the seventh spot. Idaho is eighth and San Jose State is ninth.
FIRST-EVER WAC WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAY UP TOUR OFF TO GREAT START
The Western Athletic Conference has launched it’s first-ever Play Up Tour for Women’s Basketball, after much success at the tour stops at various football, volleyball and soccer games throughout the Fall season. The Play Up Tour heightens awareness of the WAC brand as well as reinforces the association between the schools and the WAC.
At each stop, fans can join the WAC before the game to pickup free WAC beanies and t-shirts. Fans can register to win a trip to the 2008 WAC Basketball Tournament in Las Cruces, N.M., and will also have the opportunity to participate in an on-court promotion during the game.
The WAC Women’s Basketball Play Up Tour will be in correlation with the NCAA’s Pack the House Challenge. The NCAA’s Pack the House challenge is an effort to grow the sport of women’s basketball and to further develop national grassroots programs aimed at increasing attendance and awareness. Between January 1 and February 17 NCAA member schools will compete against schools in their own conference as well as all Division I schools for a chance to be the 2008 NCAA Women’s Basketball Pack the House Challenge Champion. The WAC’s Play Up Tour dates coincide with the Pack the House challenge date at every school with the exception of Fresno State. The WAC will be visiting Fresno for the Bulldogs “Think Pink” night to raise breast cancer awareness on the court, across campus and in the community on Feb. 14.
WAC FEATURES THREE OF THE TOP-20 REBOUNDERS IN THE NATION
The Western Athletic Conference currently features three of the top rebounders in the nation. Hawai?i senior center Tanya Smith ranks ninth nationally in the category, pulling down 11.2 boards per game. Louisiana Tech senior forward JoKeirra Sneed ranks 14th in the nation at 10.2 rebounds per game. New Mexico State senior forward Sherell Neal averages 9.9 rebounds per game, which ranks 19th nationally.
HOME IS WHERE THE WAC WINS ARE
So far this season, the home team has dominated WAC play. WAC teams are 15-4 at home in conference play. In conference play, the top four teams are 10-0 at home. Overall, the WAC is 44-32 at home this season. Boise State has been the most impressive team, holding a perfect 7-0 record. The Broncos have won 10 straight at Taco Bell Arena dating back to last season. New Mexico State has also found success at home with a 10-1 mark at the Pan American Center. Nevada is 8-1 at home.
ONE OF TOP-SCORING DUOS IN THE COUNTRY
Boise State’s Tasha Harris and Jessica Thompson are one of the highest-scoring duos in the country. Together, the pair averages 31.8 points per game--the most points among any two teammates in the Western Athletic Conference. Harris ranks second in the WAC in scoring at 16.5 points per game. Thompson ranks fifth in the league at 15.3 points a contest.
DO I HEAR 30?
Only two players in the WAC have reached the 30-point plateau this season. Boise State junior Tasha Harris reached the threshold on Nov. 30 against Portland on the road. Nevada guard Dellena Criner is the only WAC player to reach the mark twice, scoring 32 in a win over Idaho State at home on Dec. 2 and a career-high 33 against Boise State on Jan. 19. Criner also leads the league with seven 20-point performances this season. Harris is also the only player in the WAC this season to have recorded 10 assists in a single game.
RECORD WIN STREAKS AND IMPRESSIVE STARTS
With its 9-3 record to open the season, Nevada tied the best start in program history. The 1985-86 and 1999-00 teams also started the season with 9-3 marks. The best start in program history is 11-3 held by the 1999-00 team. Nevada finished its non-conference schedule 9-4 which marks the best non-conference finish under Kim Gervasoni and the most non-conference wins in program history since the 1999-00 team finished its non-conference schedule 11-4. Nevada also recorded the fewest non-conference losses (4) since the 1999-00 season. New Mexico State also got off to an impressive start. The Aggies 13-3 start is the best start to the season for the program since the 1993-94 season when NMSU held a 14-3 mark. Fresno State is also rewriting its record books. The Bulldogs have won seven straight games, the second longest win streak in team history.
STREAKIN’
Fresno State’s Tierre Wilson has scored double digit points in 28 straight games dating back to the 2006-07 season. Sherell Neal recently had a streak of 16 straight double digit scoring performances come to an end on Dec. 5 at BYU. Neal currently has registered five or more rebounds in 41 straight games. Fresno State’s Bailey Amundsen has connected on a shot from long range in nine consecutive games. Boise State’s Melissa Rima has connected on 12 straight free throws.
NEAL AND SMITH NAMED TO NAISMITH TROPHY WATCH LIST
The Western Athletic Conference has placed two women’s basketball players on the 2007-08 Naismith Trophy Preseason Watch List, presented by AT&T, as was announced by the Atlanta Tipoff Club. New Mexico State senior Sherell Neal and Hawai?i senior Tanya Smith were two of 50 preseason candidates named to the list. The Naismith Trophy is the most prestigious national award presented annually to college basketball’s players of the year. The watch list was compiled by the Atlanta Tipoff Club’s Board of Selectors, which based its preseason criteria on player performances from last season and expectations for the 2007-08 campaign. There are 27 seniors, 18 juniors and five sophomores on the list, which does not include incoming freshmen, who will be considered in the first ballot in January, 2008. AT&T will continue to set the standard in allowing fans to participate in determining this year’s winner. Through the power and ease of text messaging, fan voting will account for an unprecedented 25-percent of the final results ? more than any other national college basketball award. In January, the Naismith Trophy voting academy, comprised of leading basketball journalists, coaches and administrators from around the country, will narrow its preseason list to the Top-30 players in the nation. Those players will be eligible for the final ballot in March. In April, the Naismith Trophy winner will be recognized at the NCAA Women’s Final Four in Tampa, Fla. For more information, visit www.naismithawards.com.
NEW MEXICO STATE PICKS UP WIN NUMBER 300 IN PAN AMERICAN CENTER
New Mexico State picked up its 300th all-time victory in the Pan American Center with a 79-66 win over Lamar on Dec. 18. The Aggies now join Louisiana Tech as the second team in the Western Athletic Conference with 300 victories in their home arena. The Aggies currently hold a 304-137 all-time mark at the Pan American Center.
IDAHO RECORDS BEST DEFENSIVE EFFORT IN WAC HISTORY
With their 42-31 victory over Colorado State on Dec. 18, the Vandal women put together one of the best defensive performances in Western Athletic Conference and school history. Idaho allowed just eight field goals to break the WAC record of nine that Colorado State and Rice previously shared. The 31 points are also tied for the fewest ever allowed by an Idaho team and the lowest since a 67-31 victory over Whitworth on Dec. 7, 1982.
IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
Teams from the WAC rank 50th or better in seven team statistical categories and four individual categories. Nevada holds the highest team national ranking, coming in a sixth in the nation with 13.4 steals per game. Fresno State ranks 12th nationally in threes per game (7.4). Individually, Hawai?i center Tanya Smith ranks ninth in rebounding at 11.2 per game.
WHITE SETS SAN JOSE STATE THREE-POINT ATTEMPTS MARK
With 15 three-point field goals attempted at Washington State, Natalie White broke the San Jose State single game three-pointers attempted record. She broke the record of 14 three-pointers set by two former Spartans. Kari Steele attempted 14 three-pointers in her final home game of her career against Air Force on February 15, 1997, while Gretchen Seeley had 14 attempts at Long Beach State on February 13, 1994. White’s 15 three-point attempts in the game also marks the highest number of threes taken in a single game in the WAC this season.
DOUBLE YOUR PLEASURE
Hawai?i senior Tanya Smith and Louisiana Tech senior JoKeirra Sneed lead the WAC with 12 double-doubles this season. Smith’s 12 double-doubles already surpasses her nine double-double mark from just a year ago. Smith has recorded a double-double in all but five games this year and now has 26 career double-double performances. Sneed’s 12 double-doubles more than triples her double-double mark from last season. Sneed now has 15 career double-doubles. The current career double-double leader in the WAC is New Mexico State senior Sherell Neal, who has 34 career double-double performances.
BOISE STATE PERFECT THIS SEASON AGAINST 2007 POSTSEASON TOURNAMENT TEAMS
Boise State wrapped up its non-conference slate this season with a perfect 4-0 record against teams that advanced to postseason national tournaments last season. The Broncos went 1-0 vs. 2007 WNIT teams (Montana) and 3-0 against teams that advanced to last year’s NCAA Tournament (Washington, Oral Roberts, Idaho State). BSU recorded its fourth consecutive winning season against non-conference opponents dating back to the 2004-05 season.
CLUTCH PERFORMANCE
In its 62-61 road victory over SEC foe Alabama on Dec. 5, Louisiana Tech trailed by five points with less than 50 seconds to play before scoring the final six points of the game to pull off the win. Nastassja Levingston registered a four-point play with 43 seconds left before Shanavia Dowdell hit a layup with 8.7 seconds to play to seal the victory.
SJSU CLOSE CALLS
Seven games this season for San Jose State have been determined by seven points or less. The only Spartan victory was a four-point margin over Cal State Northridge, 59-55. The Spartans lost by one point in overtime to Pacific, 75-74; three points at Sacramento State, 60-57; four points, 74-70 against Cal Poly and 64-60 to Long Beach State; six points in overtime at Washington State, 78-72; and seven points to Kansas, 59-52.
FRESNO’S NON-CONFERENCE SUPER SLATE
Fresno State did not make things easy on itself this season. The team played seven of its 13 non-conference games against teams that made it to last season’s NCAA Tournament or WNIT.
NEVADA WINS NUGGET CLASSIC
Dellena Criner scored a career-high 32 points while freshman Johnna Ward added 19 as the University of Nevada women’s basketball team defeated Idaho State 74-66 in the championship game of the Nugget Classic on Dec. 2. The win marked the Pack’s second Nugget Classic title under Nevada head coach Kim Gervasoni as the Pack also won the tournament in 2005. Brandi Fitzgerald and Criner (MVP) were each named to the All-Tournament team.
NEVADA’S SITTON SELECTED AS CANDIDATE FOR LOWE’S SENIOR CLASS AWARD
Nevada senior forward Andrea Sitton has been selected as one of the 30 initial candidates for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award for the 2007-08 basketball season. The award ? presented annually to the NCAA Division I Student- Athlete of the Year in eight sports ? focuses on the “Four C’s” of classroom, character, community and competition. Lowe’s, an official corporate partner of the NCAA, will award the winner with a trophy during NCAA Final Four. This season, Sitton has played in all nine of Nevada’s games, helping the Pack to a 6-3 overall mark. She is a three-time Academic All-WAC honoree and has a 3.68 GPA in elementary education, and was named to the Dean’s List in the fall of 2006 and spring of 2007, is scheduled to graduate in the spring of 2008. Sitton has participated in a number of community service activities including, the X-Treme Ability Challenge (2004), Race for the Cure (2004-07), the Heart Walk (2005-06), Renown Seniors’ Day (2007) and the Girl’s and Women in Sports Day (2004-06). She has also been a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) since 2004 and is a member of several clubs including Interadversity, Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and Champions for Christ. From the list of 30 nominees, a national media committee will select 10 finalists for the Lowe’s Senior CLASS Award in January 2008. Those ten names will be placed on the official ballot for a nationwide vote during the NCAA Tournament in March. Fan balloting will be coupled with votes from coaches and media to determine the recipient. Prior recipients of the women’s award include Sue Bird of Connecticut (2002), LaToya Thomas of Mississippi State (2003), Alana Beard of Duke (2004), Kendra Wecker of Kansas State (2005), Seimone Augustus of LSU (2006) and Alison Bales of Duke (2007).
NEW MEXICO STATE ENDS 11-YEAR LOSING STREAK TO RIVAL, DEFEATS NEW MEXICO, COACH SPENCE PICKS UP WIN #50
Down by two at the half, the New Mexico State women’s basketball team outscored New Mexico by 18 points in the second half to end a 22-game losing streak to the Lobos with a 58-42 victory Sunday at the Pan American Center. The 16-point victory ends the 11-year losing streak to the Lobos, who they face again this season on Dec. 21 in Albuquerque. The win in the Rio Grande Rivalry gives New Mexico State 1.5 points and the Aggies now only trail New Mexico 4.5-3.0 in the series. The Aggie men’s basketball team can tie it up with a victory over UNM on Tuesday, Dec. 4 in Las Cruces. Head coach Darin Spence picked up his 50th career victory Sunday and moved into fourth place on the Aggies all-time win list.
COACHING RECORD SCHOOL MARKS
The number 50 seems to be a common theme among coaches in the Western Athletic Conference. Numerous WAC coaches have either picked up win number 50 or are on the verge of 50 wins during their tenure at their respective schools. New Mexico State coach Darin Spence (58-75) picked up his 50th win as an Aggie by defeating in-state rival New Mexico State on Dec. 2. Overall, Spence recently picked up win number 375. Fresno State’s Adrian Wiggins (58-33) picked up the milestone win at Long Beach State on Dec. 7. Hawai?i head coach Jim Bolla (51-49) got win 50 at home against UC Irvine on Dec. 29. Head Coach Kim Gervasoni (53-85) became just the second coach in Nevada team history to pick up win number 50, getting the win at home against San Francisco on Dec. 30. Louisiana Tech head coach Chris Long (51-27) got the win at home against Idaho on Jan. 9. Boise State head coach Gordy Presnell (50-30) recorded BSU career win number 50 at home against Nevada on Jan. 19.
NUMEROUS WAC PLAYERS REACH STATISTICAL MILESTONES
Senior forward Sherell Neal became the 16th New Mexico State women’s basketball player to score over 1,000 career points in the Aggies season opener Nov. 9, when she led the team to a 65-61 victory at UC Irvine. Neal now has 1,227 points, ranking her first among active players in the Western Athletic Conference. The 1,227 points ranks her 11th on the all-time scoring list at NMSU. Fresno State’s Tierre Wilson reached the 1,000-point milestone on Dec. 15 in a win over Cal-State Bakersfield. Wilson now has 1,122 career points and will soon break into Fresno State’s all-time top 10 scoring list. Wilson has also reached the 200 career assists mark, reaching the milestone at Idaho on Jan. 12. Boise State junior Jessica Thompson became just the 13th player in BSU history to reach the 1,000 point threshold. Thompson scored her 1,000th point at New Mexico State on Jan. 10. Thompson now has 1,039 points, ranking her 12th on the Boise State all-time scoring list. Utah State’s Taylor Richards became just the fifth player in USU history to reach the 1,000 point mark, notching her 1,000th point at New Mexico State on Jan. 12. Richards now has 1,024 points which ranks her fifth on USU’s all-time scoring list. Hawai?i’s Tanya Smith pulled down 41 rebounds in three games at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Classic Nov. 16-18, helping her reach the 500 career rebound mark. Smith now has 654 career rebounds, ranking her sixth all-time at UH. The 654 career rebounds ranks her second among current WAC players, behind only Neal, who has 889 career boards. Boise State’s Jackie Lee recorded her 500th career rebound at New Mexico State on Jan. 10.
TOUGH SCHEDULE
Through the non-conference schedule this season, WAC teams played 26 games featuring a 2007 NCAA Tournament or WNIT opponent. WAC teams also played seven teams that have either been ranked in the top-25 or who have received votes in the top-25 polls this season. No. 13 Cal snuck by Fresno State 83-79 on Nov. 9. WAC teams picked up 10 wins against 2007 postseason teams. Hawai?i defeated 2007 NCAA Tournament team Washington 80-75 on Nov. 16. Boise State downed 2007 WNIT participant Montana 67-61 on Nov. 11, and Nevada defeated 2007 WNIT team Stephen F. Austin 64-55 on Nov. 22, NCAA Tournament team Idaho State on Dec. 2, and postseason tournament team UC Riverside on Dec. 9. NMSU defeated BYU 54-52 in Provo on Dec. 5. BSU took care of Washington 88-66 at home on Dec. 7 and defeated Idaho State in Pocatello on Dec. 29. Fresno State defeated UC Riverside on Dec. 29.
LOUISIANA TECH HOME TO TOUGHEST PLACE TO PLAY IN THE NATION
Louisiana Tech’s home court, the Thomas Assembly Center, is a tough place to play. The Lady Techsters have won over 93 percent of their games played in Ruston since the program’s inception in 1974. La. Tech currently holds a 448-37 all-time record on its home floor.
WAC TEAMS FIND SUCCESS AT THANKSGIVING TOURNAMENTS
Teams from the WAC competed in six different tournaments over the Thanksgiving break. Louisiana Tech went 2-0 at the Lady Tiger Thanksgiving Classic in Memphis, Tenn. The Lady Techsters defeated host Memphis 82-77 to claim the title. Louisiana Tech’s Jo Sneed was named the Classic’s MVP, while teammate Tarkeisha Wysinger was named to the All-Tournament team. Boise State finished second at the Hilton Concord Thanksgiving Classic in Moraga, Calif. The Broncos dropped a 78-63 decision to host St. Mary’s in the championship game. BSU’s Tasha Harris was named to the All-Tournament team. New Mexico State claimed the title of its own tournament, the Thanksgiving Classic in Las Cruces. The Aggies went a perfect 3-0, defeating Kent State, Northern Colorado, and Texas State. Hawai?i placed third at the Jack in the Box Rainbow Classic in Honolulu. The team went 1-2 at the tournament. Nevada went 1-0 at the UTEP Thanksgiving Classic and was unable to play the championship game due to a city power outage. Idaho participated in the Husky Classic in Seattle, where the Vandals went 0-2. Despite the two losses at the Husky Classic, Idaho’s Hannah Wells was named to the All-Tournament team.
BOISE STATE FAVORED IN PRESEASON POLLS
Boise State, the 2006-07 Western Athletic Conference regular season co-champion and tournament title winner, was selected as the favorite by both the coaches and the media in the WAC preseason polls. The Broncos received seven of the nine first-place votes in the coaches poll and nine of the 15 top votes in the media poll.
PRESEASON ALL-WAC TEAMS ANNOUNCED
Along with the preseason polls, the coaches and media also voted on preseason all-WAC teams. Both the coaches and media selected Boise State junior guard Jessica Thompson, the 2007 WAC Tournament MVP, as the WAC’s preseason Player of the Year. Thompson was also selected to both the coaches and media’s first team all-WAC.
In the coaches poll, junior Nevada 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).
The media’s all-WAC team included Thompson, Criner, Neal, Madison, and Wilson.
NEW MEXICO STATE TO HOST 2008 WAC TOURNAMENT
Lac Cruces and New Mexico State University will host the 2008 WAC Tournament, March 11-15. It will be the second year in a row that the event will be held at the Pan American Center. The tournament features all nine men’s and women’s teams. Boise State defeated host New Mexico State in last year’s tournament championship game, 49-46.