Denver, Colo. - The SMU women's basketball team has been picked to finish third in the Western Athletic Conference, in an announcement made by the WAC on Monday. SMU did finish third last season with a conference mark of 11-5.

The newest member of the Western Athletic Conference, Louisiana Tech, has been selected by the league?s coaches to win the 2001-02 women?s basketball title.

The Lady Techsters earned nine of the 10 first place votes and tallied a total of 81 points to top the poll. (Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams) Hawai`i, featuring last season?s Freshman of the Year April Atuaia, was picked to finish second, garnering one first place vote and 69 points. SMU collected 63 points for third.

Nevada (56 points) and Rice (53) finished a close fourth and fifth, respectively. In sixth place was Fresno State with 39 points followed by Tulsa (36) and Boise State (19). San Jose State and UTEP finished tied for ninth with 17 points.

Louisiana Tech comes to the WAC having participated in all 20 NCAA Tournaments. With two national championships and 13 Final Fours, the Lady Techsters look to continue the strong tradition in the WAC. Last season, La. Tech finished the season, 31-5 and advanced to the NCAA Regional Finals. The Lady Techsters are led by senior center Ayana Walker, an Associated Press honorable mention All-American.

Hawai`i finished the 2000-01 season with a 26-8 record advancing to the Women?s National Invitational Tournament semifinals. Last season, the Rainbow Wahine finished second in the regular season.

The Western Athletic Conference women?s basketball coaches also selected their 2001 preseason award winners on Monday. Earning preseason Player of the Year honors was Louisiana Tech center Ayanna Walker. Louisiana Tech placed two on the first team, Ayanna Walker and senior center Takeisha Lewis. SMU, picked to finish third in the WAC, had two named to the second team, junior center Kaci Alexander and sophomore guard Andrea Cossey.

2001 WAC BASKETBALL PRESEASON AWARD WINNERS

First Team
Name	School	Pos.	Ht.	Yr.	Hometown (Previous School)
Ayanna Walker	La. Tech	C	6-3	Sr.	Houston, Texas (Westbury)
Kate Smith	Nevada	C/F	6-3	Jr.	Reno, Nev. (McQueen)
Takeisha Lewis	La. Tech	C	6-2	Sr.	Lisbon, La. (Pineview)
Lindsay Logan	Fresno State	G	5-6	Jr.	Sandy, Utah (Alta)
Omelogo Udeze	Fresno State	F	6-1	Jr.	Los Angeles, Calif. (Harvard-Westlake)

Second Team
Name	School	Pos.	Ht.	Yr.	Hometown (Previous School)
Kaci Alexander	SMU	C	6-4	Jr.	Carrollton, Texas (Newman Smith)
Atari Parker	SJSU	G	5-9	Sr.	Riverside, Calif. (Santa Ana College)
Andrea Cossey	SMU	G	5-11	So.	Prescott, Ark (Prescott)
Daneesh McIntosh	Rice	F/C	6-0	Sr.	Red Hills, Kingston, Jamaica  (Immaculate
Conception)
Crista Peterson	Boise State	F	6-2	Sr.	Meridian, Idaho (Eagle)