Fresno State Athletics
Bulldogs Picked Second in Preseason Polls
10/14/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Oct. 14, 2008
FRESNO, Calif. - After winning the WAC championship last year, the Fresno State women's basketball team was picked to finish second as voted upon by the coaches and media in the preseason polls. The Bulldogs received five first place votes in the media poll and in the coaches poll the Dogs earned three first place votes.
"It's a new season and we are very excited about the opportunity we have to prove ourselves as one of the top teams in the league and on the west coast," Fresno State coach Adrian Wiggins said.
Jaleesa Ross was named to the Preseason First-Team All-WAC by the coaches and media while Hayley Munro was named to the Preseason First Team All-WAC squad by the coaches.
"It's great individual recognition," Wiggins said. "As players I feel like they can continue to grow and develop their game."
After the Broncos and the Bulldogs, Louisiana Tech, Nevada and New Mexico State were picked to finish three through five respectively in both polls. In the coaches' poll, Utah State was picked sixth and earned one first place vote while Hawai'i was seventh, San Jose State eighth and Idaho ninth.
In the media poll, Hawai'i was picked sixth, Utah State seventh, Idaho eighth and San Jose State ninth.
The coaches' Preseason First-Team All-WAC squad included; Dellena Criner (Nevada), Shanavia Dowdell (Louisiana Tech), Tasha Harris (Boise State), Hayley Munro (Fresno State) and Jaleesa Ross (Fresno State).
Criner was voted the Preseason Player of the Year by the coaches. The Second Team All-WAC squad had Brandi Fitzgerald (Nevada), Danyelle Snelgro (Utah State), Madison Spence (New Mexico State), Natalie White (San Jose State) and Tarkeisha Wysinger (Louisiana Tech).
The media voted Criner, Dowdell, Harris, Ross and Spence to the Preseason Media All-WAC team.
Practice starts for the Bulldogs Friday afternoon and they open exhibition play at the Save Mart Center on November 5 at 6 p.m. against Fresno Pacific.
2008-09 Preseason Women's Basketball Media Poll
Rank Teams (1st Place Votes) Points
1. Boise State (15) 189
2. Fresno State (5) 179
3. Louisiana Tech (1) 139
4. Nevada 134
5. New Mexico State (1) 122
6. Hawai`i 83
7. Utah State 66
8. Idaho 40
9. San Jose State 38
Preseason All-WAC Team
Dellena Criner, G,Sr., Nevada
Shanavia Dowdell, F, Jr., Louisiana Tech
Tasha Harris, G, Sr., Boise State
Jaleesa Ross, G, So., Fresno State
Madison Spence, G, So., New Mexico State
Player of the Year: Tasha Harris, Boise State
2008-09 Preseason Women's Basketball Coaches Poll
Rank Teams (1st Place Votes) Points
1. Boise State (5) 61
2. Fresno State (3) 58
3. Louisiana Tech 46
4. Nevada 41
5. New Mexico State 39
6. Utah State (1) 25
7. Hawai`i 24
8. San Jose State 19
9. Idaho 11
Preseason All-WAC Teams
First Team
Dellena Criner, Sr., G, NEV
Shanavia Dowdell, Jr., F, LTU
Tasha Harris, Sr., G, BSU
Hayley Munro, So., F, FS
Jaleesa Ross, So., G, FS
Second Team
Brandi Fitzgerald, Sr., G, NEV
Danyelle Snelgro, Sr., G, USU
Madison Spence, So., G, NMSU
Natalie White, Sr., G, SJSU
Tarkeisha Wysinger, So., G, LTU
Preseason Player of the Year: Dellena Criner, Nevada
"Join the State -Fresno State"- Fresno State women's basketball tickets go on sale at the Fresno State ticket office on Thursday, October 16 at 9 a.m. Fans can purchase single game, season tickets or mini-plan ticket packages.
