Thorn, Cougars Top MWC In Preseason Media Poll
The Mountain West Conference announced its preseason media poll and all-conference team at the MWC Basketball Media Day held at the J.W. Marriott in Las Vegas.
For the first time in league history, BYU sits atop the preseason media poll after capturing eight of the 15 first-place votes and 110 points. Colorado State was a close second with seven first-place votes and 103 points. The Cougars captured the 2002 conference tournament title, while the Rams won the regular season crown last year, confirming the media's preseason choice in the MWC poll a year ago. Utah was the preseason favorite for the first two years of the league and went on to win regular season conference titles both years.
New Mexico placed third in the balloting and had one first-place vote, followed by Utah, UNLV, Wyoming, San Diego State and Air Force.
BYU senior guard Erin Thorn earned Top Returning Player honors, while UNLVjunior transfer Infini Robinson was named Top Newcomer. Five of the eight MWC teams were represented on the all-conference team, including two for 2002 NCAA Sweet 16 participant BYU. The only unanimous pick on the preseason media all-conference team, Thorn was joined on the squad by five additional seniors, including teammate Jennifer Leitner. Colorado State's Ashley Augspurger, New Mexico's Jordan Adams, UNLV's Constance Jinks and Wyoming's Carrie Bacon rounded out the preseason media all-conference team.
2002-03 Mountain West Conference Preseason Media Poll
Rk. Team (1st-place votes) Pts
1. BYU (8) 110
2. Colorado State (7) 103
3. New Mexico (1) 91
4. Utah 70
5. UNLV 69
6. Wyoming 49
7. San Diego State 31
8. Air Force 17
2002-03 MWC Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
Name, Class, Position Institution
Jennifer Leitner, Sr., F BYU
Erin Thorn, Sr., G BYU
Ashley Augspurger, Sr., F Colorado State
Jordan Adams, Sr., C New Mexico
Constance Jinks, Sr., G UNLV
Carrie Bacon, Sr., F Wyoming
The Cougar team opens the season at home on Nov. 22 hosting the University of Texas in a 7 p.m. tip off from the Marriott Center.
