March 8, 2009
2009 All-WAC Team
2009 WAC Tourney Bracket
RUSTON -- Louisiana Tech junior forward Shanavia Dowdell was named the 2009 Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year as voted on by the league coaches and released by the conference office Sunday.
Dowdell was joined on the all-WAC first team by LA Tech sophomore forward Adrienne Johnson, who also earned a spot on the league all-defensive team.
"It's truly a deserving honor for Shanavia," said Tech head coach Teresa Weatherspoon. "She has played very well the entire season. I'm so proud of everything she has done that she will continue to do in order to make us a better basketball team."
Dowdell led Louisiana Tech to a share of the 2009 Western Athletic Conference regular season title, averaging 15.4 points, 9.8 rebounds 1.3 blocks and 1.3 steals per contest in WAC-only games.
The Calera, Ala. native shot 55 percent from the field and 66 percent from the free throw line in the 16 league contests while registering double figures 15 times and recording eight double doubles.
"This is a great honor," Dowdell said. "I appreciate the fact the coaches in the WAC have recognized me. I couldn't have done any of this without my teammates and my coaches; they are as big a part of this honor as I am."
For the season, Dowdell ranked No. 1 in the WAC in scoring (16.0 ppg), No. 2 in rebounding (9.7 rpg), No. 1 in field goal percentage (.531) and No. 3 in blocks (1.8 bpg).
Johnson earned her spot on the all-WAC first team after a stellar sophomore campaign that saw the 6-foot forward become one of the top all-around players in the league.
In WAC-only games, Johnson averaged 16.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.3 blocks per contest while shooting 51 percent from the field and 72 percent from the free throw line. Johnson scored in double figures 15 times, including six games of 20 or more points.
"Adrienne is an undersized post player who gets it done for us every night," Weatherspoon said. "This is another deserving honor. She is only going to get better and better as her career progresses.
"I think she has improved tremendously on the defensive end. She is a great help side defender. She has great leaping ability and gives up her body every night on the defensive end."
For the season, Johnson ranked No. 2 in scoring (15.1 ppg), No. 3 in rebounding (6.9 rpg), No. 3 in field goal percentage (.468), No. 5 in steals (1.9 spg), and No. 6 in blocked shots (1.30 bpg).
Dowdell and Johnson will lead Louisiana Tech into the 2009 WAC Tournament where the Lady Techsters will host New Mexico State Wednesday at 10:30 p.m. CST.
First Team All-WAC
Dellena Criner, Nevada
Shanavia Dowdell, LA Tech
Adrienne Johnson, LA Tech
Jalessa Ross, Fresno State
Danyelle Snelgro, Utah State
Second Team All-WAC
Hayley Munro, Fresno State
Yinka Olorunnife, Idaho
Ana Pares, Utah State
Madison Spence, New Mexico State
Derisa Telani, Idaho
All-Defensive Team
Dellena Criner, Nevada
Jenna Galassi, Boise State
Adrienne Johnson, LA Tech
Yinka Olorunnife, Idaho
Danyelle Snelgro, Utah State
All-Freshman Team
Shaena-Lyn Kuehu, Idaho
Heather Pilcher, Boise State
Katilyn Soto, NMSU
Courtney VanBrocklin, Boies State
Tabytha Wampler, NMSU
Player of the Year: Shanavia Dowdell, Louisiana Tech
Defensive Player of the Year: Dellena Criner, Nevada
Newcomer of the Year: Derisa Taleni, Idaho
Coach of the Year: Jon Newlee, Idaho
