Oct. 30, 2009
RUSTON - Defending Western Athletic Conference champion Louisiana Tech received 11 points in the preseason Associated Press Top 25 poll released Friday as the Lady Techsters are one of two league teams to do so.
Head coach Teresa Weatherspoon's team earned the 11 points to rank 41st in the poll while conference foe Fresno State - who shared the WAC title with LA Tech last season - earned three points to rank 51st in the poll.
The Lady Techsters return the bulk of last year's team including four starters and a pair of first team all-WAC players in forwards Shanavia Dowdell and Adrienne Johnson. Tech won nine of its last 11 games last season to earn a share of the WAC title and a berth in the WNIT where the Lady Techsters defeated Conference USA champion SMU before falling at Illinois State.
Tech was tabbed as the preseason favorite to repeat as WAC champions by the league media while the conference coaches picked the Lady Techsters second behind Fresno State.
Defending national champion UConn was the unanimous pick for first place in the AP Poll. The Lady Techsters schedule includes a number of teams ranked in the poll, including No. 7 Baylor and No. 9 LSU while Mississippi State received 110 points to rank 28th.
Tech plays Incarnate Word Sunday at 2 p.m. at the Thomas Assembly Center in an exhibition game before opening its regular season Nov. 13 against Centenary.
Season tickets are on sale and can be purchased by logging onto www.latechsports.com, www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 318-257-3631.
AP Top 25 Poll
1. Connecticut (40) 0-0 1000
2. Stanford 0-0 951
3. Ohio State 0-0 862
4. Notre Dame 0-0 799
5. North Carolina 0-0 798
6. Duke 0-0 772
7. Baylor 0-0 744
8. Tennessee 0-0 676
9. LSU 0-0 600
10. Michigan State 0-0 521
11. Xavier 0-0 492
12. Texas 0-0 487
13. Oklahoma 0-0 444
14. Virginia 0-0 394
15. Florida State 0-0 385
16. Arizona State 0-0 317
17. DePaul 0-0 301
18. California 0-0 294
19. Georgia Tech 0-0 262
20. Kansas 0-0 241
21. Georgia 0-0 201
22. Vanderbilt 0-0 165
23. Louisville 0-0 156
24. Middle Tennessee State 0-0 143
25. Rutgers 0-0 138
OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES
Texas A&M 137, Maryland 114, Mississippi State 110, San Diego State 78, South Dakota State 70, Pittsburgh 48, Purdue 45, Kansas State 33, Gonzaga 30, Marist 26, UCLA 26, Michigan 16, Iowa State 14, Minnesota 14, Boston College 12, Louisiana Tech 11, Tulane 9, Bowling Green 8, Arkansas 7, TCU 7, Wisconsin-Green Bay 7, Auburn 6, Nebraska 6, Texas Tech 6, USC 5, Florida 3, Fresno State 3, Oklahoma State 3, Delaware 1, Florida Gulf Coast 1, Temple 1,
