DENVER – The Western Athletic Conference women's basketball media have selected Fresno State as the preseason favorite to win the conference crown during the 2010-11 season, and Bulldog senior guard Jaleesa Ross was selected the WAC Preseason Player of the Year.
Fresno State, which won last year's WAC regular-season title with a perfect 16-0 record, received 14 first-place votes, earning 158 points. Louisiana Tech was picked to finish second with 146 points and four first-place votes, followed by Nevada with 117 points. Boise State was picked to finish fourth with 92 points, just ahead of Idaho with 91 points and New Mexico State with 87 points. Utah State was picked to finish in seventh place with 54 points, followed by Hawai'i in eighth with 46 points and San Jose State in ninth with 19 points.
Reigning WAC Defensive Player of the Year Ross was voted Preseason Player of the Year and is the on the preseason all-WAC first team. Joining her on the preseason all-WAC first team are teammate Hayley Munro, Louisiana Tech's Adrienne Johnson, Tahnee Robinson of Nevada and Rachele Kloke of Idaho.
The Preseason all-WAC second team is comprised of Boise State's Janie Bos, Idaho's Yinka Olorunnife, Nevada's Shavon Moore, New Mexico State's Madison Spence and Utah State's Amber White.
The following is the complete 2010-11 WAC men’s basketball media poll with first-place votes in parentheses (points awarded on a 9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis):
2010-11 Preseason Women’s Basketball Media Poll
Rank Teams (1st Place Votes) Points
1. Fresno State (14) 158
2. Louisiana Tech (4) 146
3. Nevada 117
4. Boise State 92
5. Idaho 91
6. New Mexico State 87
7. Utah State 54
8. Hawai‘i 46
9. San Jose State 19
Preseason Media All-WAC Teams
First Team
Adrienne Johnson, Louisiana Tech
Rachele Kloke, Idaho
Hayley Munro, Fresno State
Tahnee Robinson, Nevada
Jaleesa Ross, Fresno State
Second Team
Janie Bos, Boise State
Shavon Moore, Nevada
Yinka Olorunnife, Idaho
Madison Spence, New Mexico State
Amber White, Utah State
Preseason Player of the Year: Jaleesa Ross, Fresno State