IRVING, TEXAS - The defending national champion Texas A&M women's basketball team was selected to finish second in the Big 12 Conference Preseason Poll released Wednesday.
Coming off of a school-record 33 victories and winning its first NCAA title in April, the Aggies received one first-place vote and 73 points, listed only behind preseason favorite Baylor (81).
A&M was picked second for the second consecutive year, which is its highest spot in the preseason poll since the team was chosen as the favorite prior to the 2007-08 season. For the sixth consecutive year, the Aggies were selected among the top five teams in the league.
Just two points separated the next two spots as Texas was chosen third, followed by Oklahoma in fourth. Iowa State rounded out the top five. The remaining selections were Texas Tech in sixth, Kansas seventh, Oklahoma State eighth, Kansas State ninth and Missouri 10th.
The Aggies return three starters from last year's squad, including Preseason All-Big 12 honorable mention Sydney Carter (DeSoto, Texas), senior Adaora Elonu (Houston, Texas), and Preseason All-Big 12 Tyra White (Kansas City, Mo.).
A&M introduces four newcomers in 2011-12, including Big 12 Preseason Newcomer of the Year Kelsey Bone (Houston, Texas), and the third-best recruiting class in the country consisting of 6-foot-7 center Rachel Mitchell (Houston, Texas), 5-foot-8 guard and Big 12 Preseason Co-Freshman of the Year Alexia Standish (Colleyville, Texas) and 5-foot-10 guard Tori Scott (Marrero, La.).
Head coaches and select student-athletes will convene in Kansas City on Oct. 19 for the annual Big 12 Women's Basketball Media Day. Kansas City's Municipal Auditorium will serve as the site of the 2012 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship March 7-10.
2011-12 Big 12 Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
|
1. |
Baylor (9) |
81 |
|
2. |
Texas A&M (1) |
73 |
|
3. |
Texas |
60 |
|
4. |
Oklahoma |
58 |
|
5. |
Iowa State |
43 |
|
6. |
Texas Tech |
37 |
|
7. |
Kansas |
35 |
|
8. |
Oklahoma State |
30 |
|
9. |
Kansas State |
23 |
|
10. |
Missouri |
10 |
(first place votes in parentheses; coaches not allowed to vote for their own team)