BYU Women Open 2000-2001 Hoops Season With Foreign Exhibition Game

With a core of five returning letterwinners, including two starters, the BYU women's basketball team is focusing on another 20-plus winning season, a conference title and getting past the first round of March's "Big Dance." The pre- season opens for the women hoopsters on Friday, Nov. 3 as they host Manukau, New Zealand, a women's club team. Tip off is set for 7 p.m. at the Marriott Center.

Media Picks Cougars To Finish 3rd In MWC

In early October the Mountain West Conference held its annual basketball media day where the BYU women were picked to finish league play in third place by the media and fifth place by the coaches.

Preseason Media Poll

Rk. School (1st place votes) PTS

1. Utah (10) 136

2. Colorado State (5) 125

3. BYU (2) 110

4. UNLV (1) 105

5. New Mexico 86

6. Wyoming 53

7. San Diego State 50

8. Air Force 19

Preseason Coaches' Poll

1. Utah (7) 56

2. Colorado State (1) 47

3. New Mexico 43

4. UNLV 39

5. BYU 35

6. Wyoming 25

7. San Diego State 21

8. Air Force 14

Thorn Headlines Pre-Season All-Conference Team

Sophomore guard, Erin Thorn from Orem, Utah was named to the preseason All-Conference Team by the media and coaches. Teammate Julie Whetten was voted as the preseason Top Newcomer by the media.

BYU Probable Starters

l 31 Lisa Osguthorpe - 6-0 Jr, F (4.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg)

l 44 Caroline Beus - 6-1 Sr, C/F (2.6 ppg, 1.6 rpg)

l 50 Heather Cheesman - 6-1 Fr, F(RS, Orem, UT/Mountain View HS)

l 11 Erin Thorn - 5-10 So, G (13.2 ppg, 3.5rpg)

l 22 Stacy Jensen - 5-6 Jr, G (8.3 ppg, 2.6 rpg)

BYU Players Off The Bench

l 04 Kaly Gillette Shippen - 5-6 Sr, G (Ricks College/SDSU)

l 14 Julie Whetten - 5-8 Fr, G (Silver City, New Mex)

l 15 Jorja Cox - 5-11 Sr, F (0.7 ppg, 0.6 rpg, played in nine games)

l 20 Brittany Larson - 6-0 So, F (0.5 ppg, 0.9 rpg, played in 10 games)

l 23 Chanell Rose - 6-0 So, F (transfer from UVSC - 10.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg)

Cougars Injury Report

Jennifer Lietner will be out for about eight weeks with torn ligaments to her left foot injured during conditioning

inal BYU Stats - 1999-2000 Season

l Shooting from the field - .452 (778-1720)

l Shooting from the free-throw line - .709 (395-557)

l Shooting from the three-point arc - .366 (221-604)

l Averaged 70.1 points per game

About Manukau Auckland, New Zealand Team

l The 11-member team is spending three weeks touring the western United States making stops in Utah, Montana, Washington and Idaho

l While in Utah, they will play against the University of Utah, Weber State and BYU.

l The team will also play Montana, Montana State, Gonzaga, Washington State, the University of Idaho and Boise State.

l On November 2 they play Utah at the Huntsman center before taking on the Cougars on Nov. 3 at the Marriott Center.

Manukau Auckland Player Roster

#4 Linney Popata - 5-7 G/F, (Age-22)

#5 Michelle Hogan - 5-7 G/F, (Age-27)

#6 Antonia Solomon - 5-5 G, (Age-28)

#7 Marcia Noon - 5-6 G, (Age-32)

#8 Chaleme Smiler - 5-6 G/F, (Age-25)

#9 Noni Wharemate - 5-8 F/G, (Age-20)

#10 Jennelle Anderson - 5-8 F, (Age-25)

# 11 Charmain Smith - 5-11 F, (Age-21)

#13 Sonja Akkerman - 6-2 C, (Age-32)

#14 Jeannie Cameron - 6-1 C/F, (Age-24)

#15 Celeste Hill - 6-1 C/F, (Age-22)

Head Coach: Carcy J.R. Solomon

Assistant Coach: Samuel R. Noon

Up Next for the Cougars

Another exhibition game is scheduled for the BYU women, this time it's a game against the Alumni on Nov. 11. This game is part of a double-header with the men's exhibition game. The women begin hoops action at 4:30 p.m. The women's first official game is at Arizona on Nov. 18. BYU will host UCLA on Nov. 25th in another double-header with the men's team and a 3 p.m. tip off.