The Western Athletic Conference has announced its 2009-10 preseason women's basketball coaches and media polls, and the University of Idaho women were picked to finish fourth in both and the Boise State women were 3rd in the polls.
The Vandals received 39 votes in the coaches poll and 114 points in the media poll to give them their highest preseason ranking since their inaugural season in the WAC in 2005-06, when the team was projected third by the media and fourth by the coaches.
In addition to the team's preseason ranking, two Idaho players were also honored as preseason all-WAC selections in both polls. Junior post Yinka Olorunnife was a preseason first-team all-WAC selection in the media poll and a second-team selection in the coaches poll. Senior guard/post Derisa Taleni was voted to the all-WAC second team in both polls.
For the Bronco women, Tasha Harris and Jess Thompson were awarded pre-season All-WAC first team honors.
The coaches and the media disagreed on the conference favorite. Fresno State earned five first-place votes and 60 points to lead the coaches poll, while Louisiana Tech got 14 of 21 first-place votes and 180 points in the media poll.
LA Tech forward Shanavia Dowdell was voted Preseason Player of the Year by both the coaches and media.
2009-10 WAC Preseason Coaches Poll
Rank Teams (1st-Place Votes) Points
1 Fresno State (5) 60
2 Louisiana Tech (3) 58
3 Boise State (1) 53
4 Idaho 39
5 New Mexico State 38
6 Nevada 28
7 Utah State 24
T-8. Hawai'i 12
T-8. San Jose State 12
Preseason All-WAC Teams
First Team
Shanavia Dowdell, Sr., F, Louisiana Tech
Tasha Harris, Sr., G, Boise State
Adrienne Johnson, Jr., F, Louisiana Tech
Jaleesa Ross, Jr., G, Fresno State
Madison Spence, Jr., G, New Mexico State
Second Team
Hayley Munro, Jr., G/F, Fresno State
Yinka Olorunnife, Jr., P, Idaho
Derisa Taleni, Sr., G/P, Idaho
Jessica Van Hoogen, Sr., G, Boise State
Lydia Whitehead, Sr., C, Utah State
Preseason Player of the Year: Shanavia Dowdell, Louisiana Tech
WAC Preseason Media Poll
Rank Teams (1st-Place Votes) Points
1 Louisiana Tech (14) 180
2 Fresno State (6) 167
3 Boise State (1) 136
4 Idaho 114
5 Nevada 104
6 New Mexico State 100
7 Utah State 72
8 Hawai'i 46
9 San Jose State 26
Preseason All-WAC Teams
First Team
Shanavia Dowdell, Sr., F, Louisiana Tech
Adrienne Johnson, Jr., F, Louisiana Tech
Yinka Olorunnife, Jr., P, Idaho
Jaleesa Ross, Jr., G, Fresno State
Madison Spence, Jr., G, New Mexico State
Second Team
Crystal Boyd, New Mexico State
Tasha Harris, Sr., G, Boise State
Hayley Munro, Jr., G/F, Fresno State
Derisa Taleni, Sr., G/P, Idaho
Jessica Van Hoogen, Sr., G, Boise State
Player of the Year: Shanavia Dowdell, Louisiana Tech
