Oct. 14, 2008

LOGAN, Utah - Utah State senior guard Danyelle Snelgro was named to the Western Athletic Conference preseason all-conference second-team, voted on by the league's coaches. Snelgro's preseason honor is the second conference preseason individual honor for Utah State since joining the WAC.

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Last season, Snelgro was third on the Aggies in points per game, averaging 9.2. She was third in the WAC in steals per game, averaging 2.34. She was first on the Aggies in total steals with 68.

The coaches preseason all-WAC first-team included Dellena Criner of Nevada, Shanavia McDowell of Louisiana Tech, Tasha Harris of Boise State, Hayley Munro and Jalessa Ross of Fresno State with Dellena Criner of Nevada earning preseason Player of the Year.

The coaches preseason all-conference second-team consisted of Brandi Fitzgerald of Nevada, Tarkeisha Wysinger of Louisiana Tech, Natalie White of San Jose State, Madison Spence of New Mexico State and Snelgro.

The media also selected a preseason all-conference team which included Criner, Neal, McDowell, Harris, Ross and Spence, while Harris was selected by the media as the league's preseason Player of the Year.

"This year we are going to be pretty big," USU head coach Raegan Pebley said. "We have brought in some height and some size and some skill into the post to help balance our team out, and we have some more equity in the perimeter and the inside game. The size helps us be a little more efficient in offense and be better rebounders, and make more of a defensive presence in the paint this season."

Utah State was selected sixth with 25 points and received one of the first-place vote in the WAC Coaches Poll. Boise State received 61 points and five first-place votes to beat out Fresno State for the top spot. The Bulldogs captured second place with 58 points and three first-place votes. Louisiana Tech took third place with 46 points, followed closely by Nevada in fourth place with 41 points and Hawai`i in fifth place with 39 points. Hawai`i (24), San Jose State (19) and Idaho (11) rounded out the poll.

In the media poll, Utah State was chosen seventh with 66 points. Boise State, which tied for first place in last year's regular-season standings, received 15 first-place votes, earning 189 points. Fresno State was picked to finish second with 179 points and five first-place votes, followed by Louisiana Tech with 139 points and one first-place vote. Nevada was picked to finish fourth with 134 points, followed by New Mexico State with 122 points and the other first-place vote. In sixth place was Hawai`i with 83 points. Idaho was slated to finish eighth with 40 points and San Jose State was picked to finish ninth with 38 points.

USU begins practice, Friday, Oct. 17. The Aggies first exhibition is Monday, Nov. 3 against Montana Tech at 7 p.m. with their last exhibition on Friday. Nov. 7 against Dixie State at 7 p.m.

2008-09 Preseason Women's Basketball Coaches PollRank Teams (1st Place Votes) Points1. Boise State (5)      612. Fresno State (3)         583. Louisiana Tech       464. Nevada           415. New Mexico State         396. Utah State (1)       257. Hawai`i          248. San Jose State       199. Idaho            11
Preseason All-WAC TeamsFirst TeamDellena Criner, Sr., G, NEVShanavia Dowdell, Jr., F, LTUTasha Harris, Sr., G, BSUHayley Munro, So., F, FSJaleesa Ross, So., G, FS
Second TeamBrandi Fitzgerald, Sr., G, NEVDanyelle Snelgro, Sr., G, USUMadison Spence, So., G, NMSUNatalie White, Sr., G, SJSUTarkeisha Wysinger, So., G, LTU
Preseason Player of the Year: Dellena Criner, Nevada
2008-09 Preseason Women's Basketball Media PollRank Teams (1st Place Votes) Points1. Boise State (15)     1892. Fresno State (5)         1793. Louisiana Tech (1)       1394. Nevada           1345. New Mexico State (1)     1226. Hawai`i          837. Utah State           668. Idaho            409. San Jose State       38
Preseason All-WAC TeamDellena Criner, G, Sr., NevadaShanavia Dowdell, F, Jr., Louisiana TechTasha Harris, G, Sr., Boise StateJaleesa Ross, G, So., Fresno StateMadison Spence, G, So., New Mexico State
Player of the Year: Tasha Harris, Boise State