RUSTON - Amisha Carter knew she would have some big shoes to fill this year as the Louisiana Tech senior tried to replace 2003 WNBA Rookie of the Year Cheryl Ford in the Lady Techster lineup.

However, few people thought Carter would fill those shoes so adequately as the Oakland, Calif., native led the Western Athletic Conference in both scoring and rebounding.

On Sunday, Carter was rewarded for her effort by being named the 2004 Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year by the league's coaches after helping lead the Lady Techsters to their third straight conference regular season title.

"It was a big surprise to me," Carter said after learning about the honor Sunday afternoon. "I just wanted to go out this year and help my team. My teammates are my MVPs; all of them. I couldn't have done what I did without them. I also appreciate Coach Budke having confidence in me and sticking with me."

In addition to Carter's honor, Tech head coach Kurt Budke earned his second straight WAC Coach of the Year Award after guiding the Lady Techsters to a 24-2 overall record and a 17-1 mark in conference play.

Senior forward Trina Frierson joined Carter on the league's All-WAC first team while guards Erica Smith-Taylor and Amber Obaze both received second team accolades as Tech had four of the 10 players on the All-WAC team.

The Lady Techsters also placed three players on the five-man WAC All-Defensive team as Smith-Taylor, Obaze and Carter were named to the team. It marked the third straight year that Obaze was named to the all-defensive squad and the second such honor for Smith-Taylor.

After playing a key role off the Louisiana Tech bench as a junior, Carter started all 26 games for Tech this season, averaging 17.5 points, 10.2 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 54 percent from the field. The 6-foot-2-inch Carter led the WAC in double doubles with 13 and actually improved her scoring in league games averaging 18.3 points and 10.3 rebounds.

"Amisha is very deserving," Budke said. "Obviously, she averaged a double double and I believe she is one of the best post defenders in the country. She had so much pressure on her this year, replacing a player who was the two-time WAC Player of the Year in Cheryl Ford. She far exceeded my expectations."

Frierson, who most experts considered to be Carter's closest competition for the top honor, earned her second straight first team award after averaging 16.8 points and 6.6 rebounds while shooting 52 percent from the field and 73 percent from the free throw line despite battling injuries throughout the season.

Obaze's honors came after a senior season that saw the Dallas, Texas, native average 12.1 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.1 steals per game while hitting 46 percent of her field goals and 78 percent of her free throws. Obaze was named second-team all-WAC for the second consecutive season.

Smith-Taylor was also named second team all-WAC for the second consecutive season after averaging 12.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.3 steals and 3.5 assists per contest. The Wheatley, Ark., native scored in double digits 19 times during the year while also recording three double doubles.

Carter is Louisiana Tech's 14th conference player of the year in the last 17 seasons.

Tulsa freshman Jillian Robbins was named the WAC Newcomer of the Year.

2004 All-WAC First Team
Amisha Carter, Louisiana Tech
Trina Frierson, Louisiana Tech
Jillian Robbins, Tulsa
Jade Abele, Hawaii
Lauren Neaves, Rice

Second Team
Erica Smith-Taylor, Louisiana Tech
Amber Obaze, Louisiana Tech
Lindsey Maynard, Rice
Cricket Williams, San Jose State
Viada Zagurskyte, UTEP

All-Defensive Team
Erica Smith-Taylor, Louisiana Tech
Amber Obaze, Louisiana Tech
Amisha Carter, Louisiana Tech
Jillian Robbins, Tulsa
Lauren Neaves, Rice

All-Freshman Team
Jillian Robbins, Tulsa
Lauren Neaves, Rice
Charnette Phelps,
Michelle Hessing, Boise State
Janevia Taylor, Hawaii


Player of the Year: Amisha Carter, Louisiana Tech
Newcomer of the Year: Jillian Robbins, Tulsa
Coach of the Year: Kurt Budke, Louisiana Tech