DENVER ? The Western Athletic Conference women’s basketball media have selected Boise State as the preseason favorite to win the conference crown during the 2008-09 season. Boise State senior guard Tasha Harris was selected the WAC’s Preseason Player of the Year.
Boise State, which tied for first place in last year’s regular-season standings, received 15 first-place votes, earning 189 points. Fresno State was picked to finish second with 179 points and five first-place votes, followed by Louisiana Tech with 139 points and one first-place vote. Nevada was picked to finish fourth with 134 points, followed by New Mexico State with 122 points and the other first-place vote. In sixth place was Hawai?i with 83 points, with Utah State following in seventh with 66 points. Idaho was slated to finish eighth with 40 points and San Jose State was picked to finish ninth with 38 points.
Boise State’s Harris was voted Player of the Year and is the on the preseason Al-WAC team. She was a first team All-WAC selection last year after leading the league in scoring. Nevada’s Dellena Criner was also named to the Preseason All-WAC team. Harris and Criner were the only two returning first team All-WAC honorees from last season. Last year’s WAC Newcomer of the Year, Jaleesa Ross of Fresno State, Louisiana Tech’s Shanavia Dowdell and New Mexico State’s Madison Spence round out this year’s team.
2008-09 Preseason Women’s Basketball Media Poll
Rank Teams (1st Place Votes) Points
1. Boise State (15) 189
2. Fresno State (5) 179
3. Louisiana Tech (1) 139
4. Nevada 134
5. New Mexico State (1) 122
6. Hawai?i 83
7. Utah State 66
8. Idaho 40
9. San Jose State 38
Preseason All-WAC Team
Dellena Criner, G, Sr., Nevada
Shanavia Dowdell, F, Jr., Louisiana Tech
Tasha Harris, G, Sr., Boise State
Jaleesa Ross, G, So., Fresno State
Madison Spence, G, So., New Mexico State
Player of the Year: Tasha Harris, Boise State