TEAM-BY-TEAM NOTES
Boise State Broncos (15-6, 7-2 WAC)
Boise State swept three games last week defeating league leaders Fresno State 82-62 Monday night in Boise followed by road victories at San Jose State 78-51 and at Idaho 65-60 ... the three wins last week guaranteed the Broncos their second consecutive winning record ... Boise State now has a favorable schedule heading into the final stretch as they will host five of their last seven games in the friendly confines of Taco Bell Arena where they are undefeated this season and have an active 10 game win streak running ... up next for the Broncos are two important home tests this week as they host Louisiana Tech and New Mexico State ... Tasha Harris and Jessica Thompson continue to lead the Broncos with 17.0 and 14.8 points per game respectively ... they are also the first junior duo to reach the 1,000 career points milestone in the same season in Boise State history.
Fresno State Bulldogs (13-9, 8-1 WAC)
Jaleesa Ross averaged 13.5 points in two games last week ... she scored a team-best 15 points in a 32 point win over Nevada ... In a loss at Boise State she had 12 points ... Ross is 17th in the nation in 3-point field goal percentage ... Fresno State has won 7 straight home games ... since Adrian Wiggins has been head coach the Bulldogs are 16-5 in the month of February ... the Bulldogs are outscoring opponents 76-56 at the Save Mart Center in WAC play ... Tierre Wilson needs three steals to move into 10th place for the career All-Time steals leaders ... The Bulldogs defeated Louisiana Tech 82-63 on Monday night, marking the first-ever win for the Bulldogs in Ruston ... the win was also the first time the Lady Techsters have been swept by a conference opponent since 1990-91.
Hawai?i Rainbow Wahine (8-13, 2-6 WAC)
Hawai?i went 0-2 last week on the road, falling 71-53 at New Mexico State before dropping a 90-53 decision at Louisiana Tech ... Saundra Cariago led the Rainbow Wahine on the week, averaging 11.5 points per game ... she also led the team with four steals ... senior Tanya Smith fronted the team in the rebounding category, averaging 8.5 per game ... Smith currently ranks second in the nation in rebounds per game ... Megan Tinnin averaged 8.5 points a game last week and was able to connect on five threes over the two games ... This week, Hawai?i returns to the friendly confines of the Island where it will host Utah State and Nevada.
Idaho Vandals (2-18, 1-7 WAC)
The Vandals played just one game last week, falling 65-60 at home to in-state rival Boise State ... Three Vandals scored in double figures, including Katie Madison (22), Alana Curtis (13), and Carli Bakondy (10) ... Madison added 10 rebounds for the double-double effort ... The Vandals connected on 15-of-17 free throws in the game, an 88.2 percent effort ... Yinka Olorunnife pulled down a game-high 14 rebounds in the loss ... This week, Idaho hosts New Mexico State and Louisiana Tech.
La Tech Lady Techsters (10-11, 4-4 WAC)
Senior forward JoKeirra Sneed (Belle Glade, Fla.) scored a career-high tying 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead Louisiana Tech to a 90-53 win over Hawaii last week ... Sneed hit 10-of-14 field goals while registering her WAC-leading 14th double-double of the season ... she also added two blocks and two steals in 29 minutes of action ... Sneed also held Hawaii’s Tanya Smith, the nation’s second leading rebounder, to only six points and six rebounds in 24 minutes of play ... The Lady Techsters dropped an 82-63 decision to league-leading Fresno State on Monday night.
Nevada Wolf Pack (15-6, 6-2 WAC)
Nevada is five wins away from its first 20-win season in program history ... the Pack is three wins away from recording the most-ever overall wins under Gervasoni (18) and is four wins away from tying the record for most wins in program history (19) ... - Nevada is 11-1 at home this season and has won 10 straight at home. The Pack has not lost at Lawlor Events Center since November 11, 2007 ... Cherlanda Franklin narrowly missed recording her second double-double of the season as she scored 16 points and added nine rebounds versus Utah State on Feb. 2 ... Nevada shot a season-high 57.1 percent (28-of-49) from the field in the Pack’s win over Utah State on Feb. 2 ... Nevada has had two home games with over 1,000 fans in attendance (1,953 vs. NMSU and 1,027 vs. Utah State).
New Mexico State Aggies (16-5, 6-2 WAC)
New Mexico State has secured its first winning season since the 2002-03 year when the Aggies went 16-12 ... the Aggies have won nine-straight games at home and are 12-1 in the Pan American Center this season ... senior forward Sherell Neal has tied the NMSU school record for most blocked shots in a career, as she tied Ann McReynolds 30 year-old record ... senior guard Irma Kmitaite-Smith has made five of her last eight 3-point attempts ... sophomore guard Hannah Spanich has made 48 of her last 52 free throw attempts ... NMSU’s six WAC victories has tied the most for the program since joining the WAC in June 2005 and New Mexico State has eight more conference games remaining.
San Jose Spartans (2-19, 1-7 WAC)
The Spartans went 0-2 last week, dropping a 78-51 decision at home before falling 71-60 at New Mexico State ... Christine Martin led the team on the week, averaging 13.5 points over the two games ... Natalie White also averaged double digits at 11.5 points per game ... White also led the team with 11 rebounds over the two games ... San Jose State hosts Nevada this week.
Utah State Aggies (6-14, 2-6 WAC)
Utah State suffered its sixth straight loss of the season at Nevada on Saturday as the Aggies fall to 6-13 overall and 2-6 in WAC action ... senior center Jenny Gross scored a game-high 13 points and a team-high six rebounds, while senior guard Taylor Richards tallied 12 points and five assists ... junior center Ndoumbe Diop tied a career-high five rebounds ... USU continues action on Thursday, Feb. 7 at 10 p.m. (MT) at Hawai’i.
WAC NOTES
BOISE STATE’S HARRIS NAMED WAC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Boise State junior Tasha Harris has been named the Western Athletic Conference Women’s Basketball Player of the Week for her play during the week of Jan. 28-Feb. 3. Harris, from Longmont, Colo. (Skyline HS), led Boise State to a 3-0 record last week, including an 82-62 win over league-leading Fresno State at home. The Broncos also swept a pair of road games against San Jose State and Idaho. The junior guard recorded 52 points over the three games while shooting 58.1 percent (18-31) from the floor, 44.4 percent (4-9) from behind the arc, and a perfect 100 percent (12-12) from the free-throw line. Harris led BSU with a team-high 24 points on 11-of-15 shooting (.733) as the Broncos handed Fresno State its first WAC loss of the season. Harris reached the 1,000 career points milestone in the win over the Bulldogs, becoming the 14th Bronco to hit the mark. Harris shot 71 percent (5-7) from the field on Thursday night in a 78-51 victory at San Jose State, scoring 13 points with six rebounds and five assists. On Saturday night in Moscow, Harris guided the Broncos to a 65-60 win over in-state rival Idaho. She tied her career mark from the charity stripe going 10-for-10, and recorded a career-best seven steals in the win. Harris has now extended her double-figure scoring streak to 24 games and has led Boise State in scoring in 11 of 21 contests this season. On the week, Harris averaged 17.3 points, 5.0 assists, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.3 steals per game. She also hit 18-of-31 shots from the field (.581) and connected on 12-of-12 shots from the free throw line.
Other nominees included: Fresno State freshman guard Jaleesa Ross averaged 13.5 points while shooting 58.8 percent from the field ... Louisiana Tech senior forward JoKeirra Sneed tied a career high with 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in a win over Hawai?i ... New Mexico State freshman Anikia Jawara averaged 15.5 points in a pair of Aggie wins last week.
WAC RACE TO CLOSE TO CALL
Fresno State has won 11 of its last 12 games and sits atop the Western Athletic Conference standings. Fresno State is in first place with an 8-1 record, followed by Boise State in second at 7-2. Boise State represents Fresno State’s only WAC loss. New Mexico State and Nevada hold down the third spot with 6-2 records. Louisiana Tech is fifth at 4-4, followed by Hawai?i and Utah State in a tie for sixth with 2-6 records. Idaho and San Jose State are tied with 1-7 records for the final spot in the league standings.
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.
HOME IS WHERE THE WAC WINS ARE
So far this season, the home team has dominated WAC play. WAC teams are 26-11 at home in conference play. In conference play, the top four teams are a combined 18-0 at home. Overall, the WAC is 55-39 (.585) at home this season. Boise State has been the most impressive team at home, holding a perfect 8-0 record. The Broncos have won 11 straight at Taco Bell Arena dating back to last season. New Mexico State has also found success at home with a 12-1 mark at the Pan American Center. Nevada is also 11-1 at home.
WAC FEATURES THREE OF THE TOP-20 REBOUNDERS IN THE NATION
The Western Athletic Conference currently features three of the top-20 rebounders in the nation. Hawai?i senior center Tanya Smith ranks second nationally in the category, pulling down 11.9 boards per game. Louisiana Tech senior forward JoKeirra Sneed ranks 14th in the nation at 10.1 rebounds per game. New Mexico State senior forward Sherell Neal averages 9.8 rebounds per game, which ranks 21st nationally.
HAWAI?I’S SMITH TIES ALL-TIME WAC SINGLE-GAME REBOUND MARK
Hawai?i senior center Tanya Smith pulled down a career-high 25 rebounds in a Jan. 26 win over Idaho, tying the WAC’s single-game rebound record set by Cheryl Ford (Louisiana Tech) during the 2003 conference tournament. Smith’s 25 rebounds sets a new WAC record for the most rebounds ever recorded in a single regular season conference game, surpassing Ford’s mark of 23 set against SMU during the 2002-03 season. Nationally, the 25 rebounds ties Smith with Syracuse’s Fantasia Goodwin for the most rebounds recorded in a single game this season.
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 17.0 points per game. Thompson ranks sixth in the league at 14.8 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 its programs history. The 1985-86 and 1999-00 Nevada teams also started the season with 9-3 marks. 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 this season. NMSU’s 13-3 start marks 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 recently won nine straight games, tying a school record set by the 1986-87, 1984-85, and the 1979-80 teams. Fresno State’s 6-0 start to conference play tied the team’s record for the best start in conference history and the most consecutive conference wins for the Bulldogs.
STREAKIN’
Fresno State’s Tierre Wilson had scored double digit points in 30 straight games dating back to the 2006-07 season before scoring eight points against Boise State on Jan. 28. Sherell Neal 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 45 straight games. Fresno State’s Bailey Amundsen has connected on a shot from long range in 14 consecutive games.
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.
NEVADA RECORDS HOME WIN #200
Nevada’s win over New Mexico State on Jan. 26 marked the 200th home victory for the Wolf Pack.
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.
IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
Teams from the WAC rank 50th or better in eight team statistical categories and four individual categories. Nevada holds the highest team national ranking, coming in a seventh in the nation with 13.1 steals per game. Fresno State ranks 12th nationally in threes per game (7.4). Individually, Hawai?i center Tanya Smith ranks second nationally in rebounding at 12.3 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 currently lead the WAC with 15 double-doubles each this season. Smith’s 15 double-doubles surpasses her nine double-doubles from just a year ago. Smith has recorded a double-double in all but six games this year and now has 29 career double-double performances. Louisiana Tech senior JoKeirra Sneed also has 15 double-doubles, which more than triples her double-double mark from last season. Sneed now has 18 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
Eight 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; seven points to Idaho, 53-46; 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.
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 (61-78) 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 (62-34) picked up the milestone win at Long Beach State on Dec. 7. Hawai?i head coach Jim Bolla (52-52) got win 50 at home against UC Irvine on Dec. 29. Head Coach Kim Gervasoni (56-86) 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 (53-29) got the win at home against Idaho on Jan. 9. Boise State head coach Gordy Presnell (54-30) recorded BSU career win number 50 at home against Nevada on Jan. 19.
SIX WAC PLAYERS REACH 1,000-POINT CLUB
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 1,285 points, ranking her first among active players in the Western Athletic Conference. The 1,285 points ranks her 10th 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 1,196 career points and ranks ninth in Fresno State scoring history. 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 1,089 points, ranking her ninth 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 1,058 points which ranks her fourth on USU’s all-time scoring list. Nevada’s Dellena Criner became just the eighth player in Wolf Pack history to reach the 1,000-point mark, reaching the milestone against Louisiana Tech on Jan. 24. Criner now has 1,048 points, ranking her seventh. BSU’s Tasha Harris connected on her 1,000th point in a win over Fresno State on Jan. 28. Harris now has 1,042 points, which ranks her 10th all-time in Boise State history.
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.
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.
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).
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.