Oct. 15, 2009
IRVING, Texas - For the fourth consecutive year, the Texas A&M women's basketball team was picked to finish among the top five teams in the league in the preseason Big 12 Conference Preseason Poll released on Thursday.
Coming off back-to-back NCAA Sweet 16 and Big 12 postseason championship game appearances, the Aggies were predicted to finish fourth and received one first-place vote with 87 points behind preseason favorite Baylor (109) and second-place vote-getters Kansas (106) and Texas (106). Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team.
A&M was the preseason favorite to win the regular-season title in 2007-08 (Big 12 postseason champion and NCAA Elite Eight), picked second in 2006-07 (Big 12 regular-season co-champion) and fifth in 2008-09 (NCAA Sweet 16).
The Aggies return 10 letterwinners from last year's 27-8 squad including 2009 Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and preseason All-Big 12 honorable mention Tanisha Smith (Kansas City, Mo.) along with one of the top 10 recruiting classes in the nation that boasts preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year and 2009 National JUCO Player of the Year Danielle Adams (Kansas City, Mo.), a junior transfer from Jefferson College.
Oklahoma placed fifth with 86 points followed by Nebraska (80), Iowa State (59), Kansas State (44), Oklahoma State (41), Texas Tech (38), Colorado (22) and Missouri (15).
Big 12 head coaches and selected student-athletes will convene in Kansas City on Wednesday, Oct. 21 for the annual Big 12 Women's Basketball Media Day. Kansas City's Municipal Auditorium will serve as the site of the 2010 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship on March 11-14.
2009-10 BIG 12 CONFERENCE WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL
1. Baylor (5) - 109
2T. Kansas (3) - 106
2T. Texas (3) - 106
4. Texas A&M (1) - 87
5. Oklahoma - 86
6. Nebraska - 80
7. Iowa State - 59
8. Kansas State - 44
9. Oklahoma State - 41
10. Texas Tech - 38
11. Colorado - 22
12. Missouri - 15
(first-place votes in parentheses; coaches not allowed to vote for their own team)