Central Oklahoma is favored to win the North Division, while
West Texas A&M is the top pick in the South Division as the
annual Lone Star Conference women's basketball preseason polls were
announced on Tuesday.
The Bronchos won their second straight North
Division title in 2009, while the Lady Buffs have claimed
four-consecutive South Division crowns and the last two conference
championships.
The LSC has 15 teams set for this season and the
league races should be as close as ever with several teams set to
challenge UCO and WTAMU. The season begins November 15.
Here's a closer look at what the voters had to say
about LSC women's basketball in 2009-10:
NORTH DIVISION
Central Oklahoma is the top choice in the Lone Star
Conference North Division after winning its second straight
divisional title with a 13-1 record last season, according to the
preseason polls.
The Bronchos coming off a record-setting 27-6
season have three starters and five letterwinners back from last
year's squad that won the LSC North and made it to the NCAA
Division II Sweet 16.
UCO collected 17 of 21 first-place votes and
tallied 164 points as the top team in the balloting of LSC coaches,
sports information directors and various media representatives.
Southeastern Oklahoma finished second with two
first-place nods and 138 points, while Northeastern State was third
with the remaining two first-place votes and 125 points.
Texas A&M-Commerce was fourth with 100 points,
followed by Texas Woman's fifth with 97, East Central sixth with
56, Southwestern Oklahoma seventh with 40 and Cameron eighth with
36.
SOUTH DIVISION
After a memorable 2008-09 campaign, West Texas
A&M is favored to win the Lone Star Conference South Division
this season, according to the league's annual women's basketball
preseason polls.
The Lady Buffs (28-6 overall, 10-2 LSC) won South
Division, LSC Championship and South Central Regional titles to
earn a spot in the NCAA Elite Eight for the first time since 1997
and fourth time in school history last season.
WTAMU received nine of the 21 first-place votes and
totaled 124 points as the top pick in the balloting of LSC coaches,
sports information directors and various media representatives.
Tarleton State was picked second in the poll, with
four first-place votes for 110 points to edge Abilene Christian in
third with four first-place nods and 108 points. In fourth
was Angelo State with 93 points and two first-place votes.
Rounding out the poll was Texas A&M-Kingsville
in fifth with 80 and the remaining two first-place tallies,
Midwestern State sixth with 45 and Eastern New Mexico seventh with
28.
|
Rank
|
NORTH DIVISION
|
1st
|
TOTAL
|
|
1
|
Central Oklahoma
|
17
|
164
|
|
2
|
Southeastern Oklahoma
|
2
|
138
|
|
3
|
Northeastern State
|
2
|
125
|
|
4
|
Texas A&M-Commerce
|
|
100
|
|
5
|
Texas Woman's
|
|
97
|
|
6
|
East Central
|
|
56
|
|
7
|
Southwestern Oklahoma
|
|
40
|
|
8
|
Cameron
|
|
36
|
|
Rank
|
SOUTH DIVISION
|
1st
|
TOTAL
|
|
1
|
West Texas A&M
|
9
|
124
|
|
2
|
Tarleton State
|
4
|
110
|
|
3
|
Abilene Christian
|
4
|
108
|
|
4
|
Angelo State
|
2
|
93
|
|
5
|
Texas A&M-Kingsville
|
2
|
80
|
|
6
|
Midwestern State
|
|
45
|
|
7
|
Eastern New Mexico
|
|
28
|