Nov. 4, 2002
DALLAS, Texas - A panel of 17 media representatives differed from the Big 12 women's basketball head coaches by picking Missouri to finish seventh in the league in 2002-03. In addition, senior guard Kerensa Barr (West Plains, Mo. / West Plains HS) received votes to the preseason All-Big 12 Team.
Last week at the Big 12 Conference's annual media day in Dallas, the coaches picked the Tigers to finish eighth. Both groups agree that the Tigers should fare better than last year, when Missouri finished tied for ninth yet advanced to its third consecutive trip to the postseason. The Tigers flip-flopped with Baylor, who was picked seventh in the coaches' poll.
The media panel also agreed with the Big 12 women's basketball head coaches by picking Texas Tech to win its fourth Big 12 title this season.
The Lady Raiders garnered nine first place votes in the media poll and tallied 192 points. Ironically, Texas Tech edged Kansas State by one point - just as in the coaches poll. The Wildcats earned seven first place votes and finished second with 191 points. Third and fourth places were also the same in both polls with Texas picked third and Oklahoma fourth with 173 and 151 points, respectively. Texas also received one first place vote.
Along with Missouri and Baylor, positions five and six were also flip-flopped from the coaches' poll, with the media selecting Iowa State ahead of Colorado. The final four spots - Oklahoma State ninth, Texas A&M 10th, Kansas 11th, and Nebraska 12th - were the same from the coaches' poll.
The media poll's individual awards were the same as the coaches. Kansas State's Nicole Ohlde was picked as Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year. Oklahoma's Maria Villarroel was Newcomer of the Year and Texas Tech's Erin Grant was Freshman of the Year.
Ohlde was joined on the media Preseason All-Big 12 team by Texas' Stacy Stephens, Iowa State's Lindsey Wilson, Texas Tech's Jia Perkins, and Oklahoma's Caton Hill. All five were also on the coaches' team in addition to Tech's Plenette Pierson.
The Tigers start their exhibition season this Sunday, Nov. 10, with a 1 p.m. contest against the Solna (Sweden) Vikings. For ticket information, call 1-800-CAT-PAWS (882-PAWS in Columbia).
1. Texas Tech (9) 192 2. Kansas State (7) 191 3. Texas (1) 173 4. Oklahoma 151 5. Iowa State 129 6. Colorado 114 7. MISSOURI 94 8. Baylor 91 9. Oklahoma State 67 10. Texas A&M 49 11. Kansas 44 12. Nebraska 31
Nicole Ohlde, Kansas State C/F 6-4 Jr/2L Clay Center, Kan. / Clay Center Stacy Stephens, Texas F 6-1 Jr/2L Winnsboro, Texas / Winnsboro Lindsey Wilson, Iowa State G 5-9 Sr/3L Seattle, Wash. / Roosevelt Jia Perkins, Texas Tech G 5-8 Jr/2L Granbury, Texas / Granbury Caton Hill, Oklahoma F 6-1 Sr/3L Ada, Okla. / Ada(Others Receiving Votes: Kendra Wecker and Laurie Koehn, Kansas State; Plenette Pierson, Texas Tech; Kerensa Barr, Missouri; Heather Schreiber, Texas; Blair Waltz, Kansas; Tera Bjorklund, Colorado; Toccara Williams, Texas A&M; Dionnah Jackson, Oklahoma)
Preseason Player of the Year: Nicole Ohlde, Kansas State
Preseason Newcomer of the Year: Maria Villarroel, Oklahoma
Preseason Freshman of the Year: Erin Grant, Texas Tech