RUSTON -- Louisiana Tech junior guard Tasha Crain was named the 2005 Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year, announced by the league office Sunday.

Crain was one of five first team all-WAC selections while teammate Lakiste Barkus earned second team all-conference accolades. Both Crain and Barkus were also voted to the WAC All-Defensive team by the league's coaches.

Crain earned the league's highest honor after leading Louisiana Tech to the Western Athletic Conference regular season title by averaging 18.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.4 assists and 1.7 steals per game.

The Kingsland, Ark., native shot 48 percent from the field, 46 percent from the three-point line and 80 percent from the free throw line for the season.

"Nobody was more valuable to their team than Tasha was to us," said Tech head coach Kurt Budke. "We knew she would take steps this year as a player and she didn't disappoint us. Tasha turned into an unbelievable go-to player. Her stats speak for themselves."

Crain entered her junior campaign averaging only 4.7 points per game through her first two seasons. However, with the graduation of three double digit scorers off of last year's team, Crain was thrust into the role of an offensive player that she readily accepted.

It marked the first time in Louisiana Tech history that a point guard had led the team in scoring.

"It's a great honor," Crain said. "Coach Budke told me that I had to become more of a scorer and that's what I tried to do. It was hard because my first two years my role was to play defense and distribute the basketball.

"I'm honored that the coaches in this league felt I deserved this because there are a lot of great players in the WAC. Obviously, I couldn't have done any of this without my teammates. It's an honor I want to share with them."

In conference only games, Crain averaged 19.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.9 steals while shooting 51 percent from the field, 49 percent from the three-point line and 82 percent from the free throw line.

Crain's honor marks the fourth straight year that a Louisiana Tech player has taken home the WAC Player of the Year award as the 5-foot-7-inch guard joins former Techsters Cheryl Ford (2002, 2003) and Amisha Carter (2004).

Barkus earned second team honors after averaging 12.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.0 steals per contest while shooting 37 percent from the field, 32 percent from the three-point line and 68 percent from the free throw line.

The Long Beach, Calif., native opened the season by scoring a career-high 23 points in Tech's 88-70 road win over Mississippi, one of three 20-plus point performances on the year.

"Lakiste made her biggest strides this year defensively," Budke said. "It shows a lot of respect from the league coaches that she was voted to the all-defensive team. She led the league in minutes played which meant a great deal to this team. She has grown as much as anyone on our team this year."

Rice head coach Cristy Mckinney earned the Coach of the Year honors while SMU freshman forward Janielle Dodds was the Newcomer of the Year.

2005 All-WAC Honors

First Team
Tasha Crain, Louisiana Tech
Jillian Robbins, Tulsa
Janielle Dodds, SMU
Amy Parrish, Fresno State
Lamisha Augustine, San Jose State

Second Team
Lakiste Barkus, Louisiana Tech
Lauren Neaves, Rice
Michelle Woods, Rice
Amy Sanders, Hawaii
Amber Jackson, San Jose State

All-Defensive
Tasha Crain, Louisiana Tech
Lakiste Barkus, Louisiana Tech
Jillian Robbins, Tulsa
Lauren Neaves, Rice
Krystal Frazier, Rice

All-Freshman
Amber Jackson, San Jose State
Janielle Dodds, SMU
Meghan McGuire, Nevada
Tasha Harris, Boise State
Shalana Taylor, UTEP

Player of the Year: Tasha Crain, Louisiana Tech
Newcomer of the Year: Janielle Dodds, SMU
Coach of the Year: Cristy McKinney, Rice