The Utah women's basketball team has dominated Mountain West Conference play over the years, winning or sharing seven regular-season titles in 10 years. Last year, the Utes tied San Diego State for first in the league, and Utah went on to win the MWC tournament and one game in the NCAA tourney.

This year, however, the Utes are picked for third place, behind San Diego State and TCU, according to a media poll that was released Tuesday at the MWC women's basketball media day in Denver.

The Aztecs, who placed two players on the preseason all-MWC team in center Paris Johnson and preseason player of the year Jene' Morris, received 25 of 28 first place votes to easily outdistance TCU, which received the other three first-place votes. BYU was picked sixth behind New Mexico and Wyoming.

Utah coach Elaine Elliott begins her 27th year as Ute coach with a young team that will try to replace league MVP Morgan Warburton and starters Katie King and Hannah Stephens.

Three-time all-MWC forward Kalee Whipple, who averaged 17 points and 6.2 rebounds last year, returns along with senior forward Halie Sawyer. Janita Badon, who saw a lot of action as a freshman, is back along with Josi McDermott and Cydney Knight. The Utes also have five newcomers, led by 6-2 center Taryn Wicijowski of Canada, was picked as the MWC freshman of the year.

BYU coach Jeff Judkins, who begins his ninth year as the Cougars' coach, has three starters returning in guards Mindy Nielson and Jazmine Foreman and forward Keilani Moeaki. Eight other letterwinners return, led by Coriann Wood, and the Cougars will hope to get contributions from newcomers Alexis Kaufusi, Kim Parker and Stephanie Vermont.

Others on the all-MWC preseason team were New Mexico's Amy Beggin and TCU's Helana Sverrisdottir.

MWC preseason women's media poll

1. San Diego State (25) 240

2. TCU (3) 216

3. Utah185

4. New Mexico 168

5. Wyoming 121

6. BYU109

7. UNLV 97

8. Colorado State 57

9. Air Force 31

e-mail: sor@desnews.com