Completed Event: Women's Basketball at Eastern Kentucky on March 19, 2026 , Loss , 58, to, 72
Final Score
Women's Basketball
58
at Eastern Kentucky
72
The University of Utah Athletics
Mountain West Conference Announced Preseason Women's Basketball Poll
10/5/2000 12:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Oct. 5, 2000
Las Vegas, Nev. - The Mountain West Conference released its preseason polls and all-conference teams Wed., Oct. 4, during the league's Basketball Media Day at the Las Vegas Four Seasons Hotel.
For the second straight year, the University of Utah was the preseason conference favorite for both the league coaches and media. The Utes took seven of the eight first-place votes from the coaches and 10 first-place votes from the media. The polls also agree that Colorado State should finish second, but the coaches voted New Mexico third, while the media picked the Lobos fifth. BYU is third in the media poll and fifth in the coaches poll. UNLV is fourth in both polls, with Wyoming, San Diego State and Air Force rounding out the field.
For the first-time in school history, Utah begins a season as the defending regular season and conference tournament champions. The Utes return four starters and 11 letterwinners from a team which posted an 11-3 league record and a 23-8 overall mark. Utah, which led the nation in scoring defense and made its 10th appearance in the NCAA tournament a year ago, has won or shared a conference title each of the past five years. Colorado State, which picked up a total of six first-place votes between the two polls, was crowned conference champions in 1998-99.
Preseason Coaches' Poll Rk. School (1st place votes) Points 1. Utah (7) 56, 2. Colorado State (1) 47, 3. New Mexico 43, 4. UNLV 39, 5. BYU 35, 6. Wyoming 25, 7. San Diego State 21, 8. Air Force 14.
Preseason Media Poll Rk. School (1st place votes) Points 1. Utah (10) 136, 2. Colorado State (5) 125, 3. BYU (2) 110, 4. UNLV (1) 105, 5. New Mexico 86, 6. Wyoming 53, 7. San Diego State 50, 8. Air Force 19.
The preseason all-conference teams also have similar looks with three players appearing on both teams. UNLV's Linda Fr?hlich, voted Top Returning Player by the media and the coaches, headlines both squads. Carrie Bacon of Wyoming and Erin Thorn of BYU were also selected to both teams. Colorado State is represented on both teams by different players. Ashley Augspurger made the media all-conference team while teammate Heather Haanen was picked by the coaches. New Mexico's Miranda Sanchez was also tabbed by the coaches, while Utah's Lauren Beckman rounds out the media team.
There was a split for the preseason Top Newcomer as the media chose BYU's Julie Whetton and the coaches selected New Mexico's Melissa Forest.
Coaches Preseason All-Conference Team Linda Fr?hlich, 6-2, Jr., F, UNLV, Erin Thorn, 5-10, So., G, BYU, Miranda Sanchez, 6-1, Sr., F, UNM, Heather Haanen, 5-11, Sr., F, CSU, Carrie Bacon, 6-0, Jr., F, Wyoming.
Coaches Top Returning Player Linda Fr?hlich, UNLV
Coaches Preseason Top Newcomer Melissa Forest, 6-2, Fr., F, UNM
Media Preseason All-Conference Team Linda Fr?hlich, 6-2, Jr., F, UNLV, Erin Thorn, 5-10, So., G, BYU, Lauren Beckman, 6-2, Jr., F/C, Utah, Ashley Augspurger, 6-1, So., F, CSU, Carrie Bacon, 6-0, Jr., F, Wyoming.
Media Top Returning Player Linda Fr?hlich, UNLV
Media Preseason Top Newcomer Julie Whetton, 5-8, Fr., G, BYU
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