Utah St. basketball: Aggies picked 7th in WAC women's preseason poll

Utah State women's basketball coach Raegen Pebley is used to seeing the Aggies predicted to finish in the bottom half of the WAC standings.

This year, though, she thinks the Aggies have enough depth and returning talent to shake things up.

"Yeah, I hope we finish higher than the preseason polls have us," Pebley said. "We feel like we're not taking a step backward but taking steps forward with the players we have back."

The Aggies were predicted to finish seventh in the WAC according to the coaches and media preseason polls which were released Tuesday.

Defending WAC champion Fresno State is on top of the coaches poll, while Louisiana Tech is the favorite according to the media.

USU, which finished 16-15 overall and 9-7 in the WAC last year, returns three starters. Replacing all-league guard Danyelle Snelgro will be tough, though. Her 14.2 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists made her one of the best point guards in the conference.

Lydia Whitehead, a 6-foot-4 senior center, was named to the WAC's preseason second team by the conference coaches. She averaged 8.4 points and 6.2 rebounds per game last year.

Pebley also said the Aggies will count on 6-2 senior Nicole Johnson to help carry the load from a point-forward position.

A year ago, the Aggies made a run in the WAC tournament, beating Idaho in the first round before narrowly losing to Fresno State, 57-54, in the semifinals.

2009-10 WAC Preseason Women's Basketball Coaches Poll

Rank Teams (1st-Place Votes). . .Points

1. Fresno State (5). . .60

2. Louisiana Tech (3). . .58

3. Boise State (1). . .53

4. Idaho. . . . . .39

5. New Mexico State. . .38

6. Nevada. . . . . .28

7. Utah State. . .24

T-8. Hawai'i. . . . . .12

T-8. San Jose State. . .12

Coaches Preseason All-WAC Team

First Team

Shanavia Dowdell, Sr., F, Louisiana Tech

Tasha Harris, Sr., G, Boise State

Adrienne Johnson, Jr., F, Louisiana Tech J

Aleesa Ross, Jr., G, Fresno State

Madison Spence, Jr., G, New Mexico State

Second Team

Hayley Munro, Jr., G/F, Fresno State

Yinka Olorunnife, Jr., P, Idaho

Derisa Taleni, Sr., G/P, Idaho

Jessica Van Hoogen, Sr., G, Boise State

Lydia Whitehead, Sr., C, Utah State

Preseason Player of the Year: Shanavia Dowdell, Louisiana Tech

2009-10 WAC Preseason Women's Basketball Media Poll