Oct. 18, 2001

DALLAS, Texas - The University of Missouri women's basketball team was picked 10th in the 2001-2002 pre-season coaches poll released by the conference office today.

The Sooners garnered eight first place votes and tallied 117 points (coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team or players). The top four teams in last year's final regular season standings were picked in the same places in this year's preseason poll. Texas Tech is second in the preseason poll with three first place votes and 112 points, followed by Iowa State in third with one first place vote and 99 points and Colorado was fourth with 92 points. Texas rounded out the top five in fifth place with 79 points.

The remainder of the preseason poll included: 6. Baylor, 7. Kansas State, 8. Nebraska, 9. Oklahoma State, 10. Missouri, 11. Kansas, and 12. Texas A&M.

Oklahoma's Stacey Dales was picked to repeat as Big 12 Player of the Year. Nebraska's Keasha Cannon was named preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and her teammate Katie Robinette was honored as preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year.

Joining Dales on the preseason All-Big 12 team is: Angie Welle, Iowa State, Plenette Pierson, Texas Tech, and Sheila Lambert and Danielle Crockrom, Baylor.

Missouri opens exhibition play Nov. 2 against Lincoln (Mo.) at 7 p.m. The Tigers begin the 2001-2002 regular season at UMKC on Nov. 16.

The annual Big 12 Women's Basketball Media Day is Wednesday, Oct. 24, in Dallas.

2001-02 Big 12 Conference Women's Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll
(first place votes in parentheses, coaches not allowed to vote for own team)

	1.	Oklahoma (8)	117
	2.	Texas Tech (3)	112
	3.	Iowa State (1)	 99
	4.	Colorado	 92
	5.	Texas	 79
	6.	Baylor	 76
	7.	Kansas State	 57
	8.	Nebraska	 47
	9.	Oklahoma State	 41
	10.	Missouri	 34
	11.	Kansas	 27
	12.	Texas A&M	 11

2001-02 Big 12 Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Team
(coaches were not allowed to vote for own players)

Stacey Dales, Oklahoma, Angie Welle, Iowa State, Plenette Pierson, Texas Tech, Sheila Lambert, Baylor, Danielle Crockrom, Baylor.

Others Receiving Votes: Mandy Nightingale and Jenny Roulier, Colorado, Lindsey Wilson, Iowa State, Nicole Ohlde, Kansas State, Caton Hill and LaNeishea Caufield, Oklahoma, Jia Perkins, Texas Tech