The Western Athletic Conference has
announced their preseason media and coaches polls and the Seattle University
women’s basketball team has been chosen to finish fourth in the league in both
polls. The Preseason Coaches Poll was voted upon by the league’s 10 head
coaches, who could not vote for their own team or players. The Preseason Media
Poll was voted upon by media members who cover WAC women’s basketball programs.
After going 20-12 and reaching their first Division I postseason tournament
last season, the Redhawks will look to continue and build on this success in
their first season in the WAC in 2012-13.
“With our first year in the WAC, this
is a great opportunity,” said head coach Joan Bonvicini. “I think the best way
to describe it, going in, is cautiously optimistic. We know we have a good core
group, but there are always unknowns. The biggest unknown is that we don’t
really know these other teams. We know a lot of them come from different
conferences, but we also know there are a lot of good coaches in the league. I
think it’s important for us, once we’re in conference play, is to learn a lot about
each team and ourselves. For me, having been in a number of different
conferences, I know they’ll be well-prepared. I’m very excited about this
opportunity.”
Junior Kacie Sowell (Ventura, Calif.)
was named to the First Team in each poll, and junior Ashley Ward (Irvine,
Calif.) was named to the Second Team in the Coaches Poll. Sowell finished last
season averaging a double-double (14.3 ppg, 10.2 rpg) and was named the College
Sports Madness Independent Player of the Year, as well as being named to the
Women’s Basketball Invitational All-Tournament Team. She also tied for ninth in
NCAA Division I in double-doubles (18) and finished fifth in the nation in
field-goal percentage (56.6 percent). Ward led the team in free-throw
percentage (84.9 percent), finishing 26th in the nation, also
finishing the season averaging in double figures in scoring (10.3 ppg).
The Redhawks will open the season with
exhibition games versus Simon Fraser (Nov. 1 at 7 p.m.) and Western Washington
(Nov. 3 at 4 p.m.) before hosting Pacific (Nov. 9 at 7 p.m.) to open the
2012-13 regular season. Coach Bonvicini will coach her 1000th career
game versus the University of Washington at KeyArena on Nov. 14 at 7 p.m.
Season and single game tickets are now available for all games on the
basketball ticket page on www.GoSeattleU.com,
or by calling the Redhawk ticket office at (206) 398-GOSU (4678).
2012-13 Preseason Women's Basketball Media Poll
1. Utah State (9) - 165
2. Louisiana Tech (4) - 145
3. Denver (1) - 135
4. Seattle U (2) - 111
5. Texas State (1) - 105
6. Idaho - 91
7. San Jose State - 70
8. UTSA - 59
9. New Mexico State (1) - 56
10. UT Arlington - 53
2012-13 Preseason Women's Basketball Media All-WAC Teams
First Team
Alyssa Charlston, Idaho
Devyn Christensen, Utah State (Preseason Player of the Year)
Whitney Frazier, Louisiana Tech
Diamond Ford, Texas State
Kacie Sowell, Seattle U
Second Team
Ta'Rea Cunnigan, San Jose State
Stefanie Gilbreath, New Mexico State
Krissy Karr, Idaho
Kelia Shelton, Louisiana Tech
Emiko Smith, Denver
2012-13 Preseason Women's Basketball Coaches Poll
1. Utah State (7) - 78
2. Louisiana Tech (3) - 75
3. Denver - 55
4. Seattle U - 48
5. Idaho - 47
6. Texas State - 41
7. San Jose State - 36
8. New Mexico State - 27
9. UTSA - 26
10. UT Arlington - 17
2012-13 Preseason Women's Basketball Coaches All-WAC Teams
First Team
Alyssa Charlston, Idaho
Devyn Christensen, Utah State (Preseason Player of the Year)
Whitney Frazier, Louisiana Tech
Diamond Ford, Texas State
Kacie Sowell, Seattle U
Second Team
Krissy Carr, Idaho
Ta'Rea Cunnigan, San Jose State
Quincey Noonan, Denver
Emiko Smith, Denver
Ashley Ward, Seattle U
