RUSTON - Less than six months after finishing 14th in the league standings in its inaugural year in Conference USA, Louisiana Tech has been tabbed seventh in the preseason Coaches' Poll released by the C-USA office Wednesday.

First year head coach Tyler Summitt and Co. received a total of 105 points from the league coaches, finishing behind Middle Tennessee (181, 6 first place votes), Western Kentucky (179, 5), Southern Miss (163, 1), UTEP (154, 1), Charlotte (132) and Old Dominion (116).

The bottom half of the poll includes UAB (104), North Texas (70), UTSA (70, 1), FIU (61), Rice (58), Florida Atlantic (45) and Marshall (32).

The Lady Techsters recorded a 12-20 mark last season, including a 5-11 record in C-USA play. However, late in the season after guard Kelia Shelton became eligible to play, Tech won four of its final five games, including two in the league tournament.

Shelton (14.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg) is one of four double digit scorers returning for Tech, along with senior Whitney Frazier (16.2 ppg, 9.8 rpg), senior Chrisstasia Walter (11.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 175 assists) and sophomore JaQuan Jackson (11.1 ppg, 51 three-pointers).

Frazier, a 6-foot forward from El Dorado, Arkansas, is one of eight players that was selected to the preseason all-Conference USA Women's Basketball Team. Frazier led Tech in scoring 13 times last year while registering 15 double doubles on the year. She earned second team all-CUSA accolades last year but is the only all-conference player (out of 16) that returns to the league this season.

Western Kentucky forward Chastity Gooch was tabbed the preseason Conference USA Player of the Year.

The Lady Techsters will open up play on Nov. 1 in an exhibition game against LSU-Alexandria with their regular season opener set for Nov. 15 at Stephen F. Austin.

Season tickets are on sale and can be purchased by calling the Tech Ticket Office at 318-257-3631 or emailing techtickets@latech.edu.

For all the latest on the Lady Techsters, fans can follow them through social media outlets, including Twitter (@LATechWBB), Instagram (@LATechWBB) and Facebook (LATechWBB). Fans can also get all of the latest information at LATechSports.com.

2014-15 Preseason C-USA Women's Basketball Poll

1. Middle Tennessee (6) - 181 points

2. WKU (5) - 179 points

3. Southern Miss (1) - 163 points

4. UTEP (1) - 154 points

5. Charlotte - 132 points

6. Old Dominion - 116 points

7. Louisiana Tech - 105 points

8. UAB - 104 points

t9. North Texas - 70 points

t9. UTSA (1) - 70 points

11. FIU - 61 points

12. Rice - 58 points

13. Florida Atlantic - 45 points

14. Marshall - 32 points

(#) - designates first-place votes

Preseason Player of the Year

Chastity Gooch, WKU

2014-15 Preseason All-Conference USA Women's Basketball Team

Lefty Webster, Charlotte, So., G, Norfolk, Virginia

Whitney Frazier, Louisiana Tech, Sr., F, El Dorado, Arkansas

Olivia Jones, Middle Tennessee, So., G/F, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Tamara Jones, Southern Miss, Sr., F, Prosser, Washington

Chelsee Black, UAB, Jr., G, Bessemer, Alabama

Chastity Gooch, WKU, Sr., F, Franklin, Kentucky

Alexis Govan, WKU, Sr., G/F, San Antonio

Kendall Noble, WKU, RS So., G, Hazard, Kentucky