DENVER – Fresno State is the preseason favorite to win the Western Athletic Conference, while Bulldog senior Jaleesa Ross was selected the WAC's Preseason Player of the Year in a vote of the league's nine head coaches, who could not vote for their own team or players.
The Bulldogs received 63 points and seven first-place votes to beat out Louisiana Tech for the top spot. The Lady Techsters captured second place with 57 points and two first-place votes. Nevada took third place with 50 points, Idaho finished fourth with 41 points, followed by Boise State in fifth place with 30 points. New Mexico State came in at sixth place with 24 points, followed by Hawai'i in seventh with 23 points. Utah State and San Jose State rounded out the poll with 19 points and 10 points, respectively.
Ross, the reigning WAC Defensive Player of the Year, leads the list of Preseason all-WAC honorees. Joining her on the first team are teammate Hayley Munro, Adrienne Johnson of Louisiana Tech and Nevada's Tahnee Robinson and Shavon Moore.
Second-team selections include Whitney Jones (Louisiana Tech), Rachele Kloke (Idaho), Jasmine Lowe (New Mexico State), Yinka Olorunnife and Madison Spence (New Mexico State).
Fresno State won the WAC regular-season title last year with a perfect 16-0 record, while Louisiana Tech won the WAC Tournament. Both teams fell in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.
2010-11 Preseason Women’s Basketball Coaches Poll
Rank Teams (1st Place Votes) Pts
1. Fresno State (7) 63
2. Louisiana Tech (2) 57
3. Nevada 50
4. Idaho 41
5. Boise State 30
6. New Mexico State 24
7. Hawai‘i 23
8. Utah State 19
9. San Jose State 10
Preseason Coaches All-WAC Teams
First Team
Adrienne Johnson, Louisiana Tech
Shavon Moore, Nevada
Hayley Munro, Fresno State
Tahnee Robinson, Nevada
Jaleesa Ross, Fresno State
Second Team
Whitney Jones, Louisiana Tech
Rachele Kloke, Idaho
Jasmine Lowe, New Mexico State
Yinka Olorunnife, Idaho
Madison Spence, New Mexico State
Preseason Player of the Year: Jaleesa Ross, Fresno State