TCU stands atop MWC women's poll

DENVER — TCU was tabbed as the Mountain West Conference announced its 2010-11 preseason women's basketball preseason favorite after taking the 2009-10 MWC regular-season title and earning an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament.

The Horned Frogs received 16 first-place votes and 174 total points. San Diego State, the 2009-10 MWC tournament champion, collected three first-place votes and finished second with 147 points, just two points ahead of third-place BYU with 145 points.

Last year's MWC Player of the Year, TCU senior guard/forward Helena Sverrisdottir, earned Preseason Player of the Year honors. San Diego State teammates Melissa Sweat and Courtney Clements were tabbed Preseason Freshman of the Year and Newcomer of the Year, respectively, by the group.

Four of the nine MWC teams were represented on the all-conference team, including four seniors and one sophomore. Sverrisdottir is a two-time all-MWC first team selection and earned WBCA State Farm Honorable Mention and Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American accolades last season. She is joined on the preseason all-MWC team by teammate Emily Carter, San Diego State's Paris Johnson, Wyoming's Hillary Carlson and Utah's Taryn Wicijowski, the 2009-10 MWC Freshman of the Year.

MWC women's basketball

Preseason coaches' poll

First-place

Rk. School Votes Pts.

1. TCU (16) 174

2. San Diego State (3) 147

3. BYU (2) 145

4. Utah 116

5. Wyoming 103

6. New Mexico 100

7. UNLV 64

8. Colorado State 59

9. Air Force 28

Note: Coaches do not vote for their own teams.