Cougar Women Picked to Finish Third in MWC

Denver, Colo. (Oct. 13, 2010) – The BYU women’s basketball team was selected to finish third in the 2010-11 Mountain West Conference regular season title, the league office announced.

The nine conference head coaches and select women’s basketball media voted on the preseason poll.

TCU was tabbed to win the regular season crown after receiving 16 first-place votes and 174 total points. San Diego State collected three first-place votes to finish second with 147 points, just two points ahead of the Cougars with 145 points and two first-place votes.

Instate rival Utah (116 points) placed fourth, followed by Wyoming (103 points), New Mexico (100 points), UNLV (64 points), Colorado State (59 points), and Air Force (28 points).

In last season’s MWC preseason poll BYU placed sixth and ended up finishing in second place. The Cougars return four starters from last year’s team that compiled an impressive 23-10, 11-5 record. The team was the automatic qualifier into the 2010 WNIT where they finished in the quarterfinals losing to eventual champion California.

BYU opens the 2010-11 campaign with two home exhibition games on Nov. 4 and 9. They began regular play at Duke on Nov. 13 and open at home Nov. 20 against Pac-10 powerhouse, Washington.

2010-11 Mountain West Conference Preseason Poll

Rk. Team (1st Place votes) Points

1 TCU (16) 174

2. SDSU (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.