Oct. 20, 2009
Coaches Poll
Media Poll
RUSTON - Defending Western Athletic Conference champion Louisiana Tech has been tabbed as the preseason favorite to repeat according to the media poll released by the conference office Tuesday.
The Lady Techsters who return four starters and eight letter winners from last year's WAC title team were picked second behind co-WAC champion Fresno State in the coaches' poll, which was also released Tuesday.
Senior forward Shanavia Dowdell and junior forward Adrienne Johnson were both selected as preseason first team all-conference members while Dowdell was tabbed as the preseason Player of the Year by both the media and the coaches.
Tech received 14 first place votes and 180 total points in the media poll followed by Fresno State (6, 167), Boise State (1, 136), Idaho (114), Nevada (104), New Mexico State (100), Utah State (72), Hawaii (46) and San Jose State (26).
Joining Dowdell and Johnson on the preseason all-conference first team was Idaho's Yinka Olorunnife, Fresno State's Jaleesa Ross and New Mexico State's Madison Spence. The second team was comprised of NMSU's Crystal Boyd, Boise State's Tasha Harris and Jessica (Thompson) Van Hoogen, Fresno State's Hayley Munro and Idaho's Derisa Taleni.
In the coaches' poll, Fresno State received five first place votes and 60 total points to edge LA Tech (3, 58), followed by Boise State (1, 53), Idaho (39), New Mexico State (39), Nevada (28), Utah State (24), Hawaii (12) and San Jose State (12).
Dowdell, the reigning WAC Player of the Year, averaged 16.1 points, 9.9 rebounds, 1.8 blocks per game last year while leading the league with 18 double doubles. The Calera, Ala. native shot 53 percent from the field, 36 percent from the three-point line and 59 percent from the free throw line.
Johnson, who was named first team all-WAC as a sophomore, averaged 15.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game last year while shooting 47 percent from the field and 72 percent from the free throw line. She led the WAC with 11 games of 20 or more points.
The first team all-conference as selected by the coaches included Dowdell, Johnson, Harris, Ross and Spence while the second team was comprised of Munro, Olorunnife, Taleni, Van Hoogen and Utah State's Lydia Whitehead.
Louisiana Tech has captured seven regular season WAC championships during its nine years of conference affiliation. Last season LA Tech posted a 21-13 mark and advanced to the second round of the WNIT before falling to Illinois State.
Tech opens the exhibition season Nov. 1 against Incarnate Word at 2 p.m. while its regular season opener is Nov. 13 at 7 p.m. against Centenary at the Thomas Assembly Center.
Season tickets are currently on sale and can be purchased by logging onto www.ticketmaster.com, www.latechsports.com or by calling the Tech Ticket Office at 318-257-3631.
2009 WAC Coaches Poll
1. Fresno State (5) 60
2. LA Tech (3) 58
3. Boise State (1) 53
4. Idaho 39
5. New Mexico State 39
6. Nevada 28
7. Utah State 24
8. Hawaii 12
9. San Jose State 12
First Team
Shanavia Dowdell, LA Tech
Tasha Harris, Boise State
Adrienne Johnson, LA Tech
Jaleesa Ross, Fresno State
Madison Spence, NMSU
Second Team
Hayley Munro, Fresno State
Yinka Olorunnife, Idaho
Derisa Taleni, Idaho
Jessica Van Hoogen, Boise State
Lydia Whitehead, Utah State
Player of the Year: Shanavia Dowdell, LA Tech
2009-10 WAC Media Poll
1. LA Tech (14) 180
2. Fresno State (6) 167
3. Boise St. (1) 136
4. Idaho 114
5. Nevada 104
6. NMSU 100
7. Utah State 72
8. Hawaii 46
9. SJSU 26
First Team
Shanavia Dowdell, LA Tech
Adrienne Johnson, LA Tech
Yinka Olorunnife, Idaho
Jaleesa Ross, Fresno State
Madison Spence, NMSU
Second Team
Crystal Boyd, NMSU
Tasha Harris, Boise State
Hayley Munro, Fresno State
Derisa Taleni, Idaho
Jessica Van Hoogen, Boise State
Player of the Year: Shanavia Dowdell, LA Tech
