Oct. 18, 2001
Waco, Texas - Oklahoma was picked by Big 12 coaches to defend it's regular season Big 12 championship while Baylor was tabbed to finish sixth. In addition, seniors Danielle Crockrom and Sheila Lambert were two of five players named to the first team.
The Sooners garnered eight first place votes (coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team or players). They were followed by Texas Tech (3 first place votes) and Iowa State (1 first place vote). Oklahoma's Stacey Dales was chosen to repeat as Big 12 Player of the Year. Also joining Dales, Lambert and Crockrom on the first team were Angie Welle (Iowa State) and Plenette Pierson (Texas Tech). All five members of the preseason All-Big 12 first team were named to various All-America squads last season and preseason All-America teams this year, including the list of preseason Naismith candidates. Nebraska's Keasha Cannon was named Newcomer of the Year and and Katie Robinette, also of Nebraska, was tabbed Freshman of the Year.
2001-02 Big 12 Conference Women's Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll
1. Oklahoma (8) - 117 votes
2. Texas Tech (3)-112
3. Iowa State (1)- 99
4. Colorado - 92
5. Texas - 79
6. Baylor - 76
7. Kansas State - 57
8. Nebraska - 47
9. Oklahoma State - 41
10. Missouri - 34
11. Kansas - 27
12. Texas A&M - 11 (first place votes in parentheses, coaches not allowed to vote for own team)
2001-02 Big 12 Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Team
(coaches not allowed to vote for own players)
Preseason All-Big 12 Team
Stacey Dales, Oklahoma
Angie Welle, Iowa State
Plenette Pierson, Texas Tech
Sheila Lambert, Baylor
Danielle Crockrom, Baylor
(Others Receiving Votes: Mandy Nightingale and Jenny Roulier, Colorado, Lindsey Wilson, Iowa State, Nicole Ohlde, Kansas State, Caton Hill and LaNeishea Caufield, Oklahoma, Jia Perkins, Texas Tech)
Player of the Year:
Stacey Dales, Oklahoma
Newcomer of the Year:
Keasha Cannon, Nebraska - G, 5-10, Jr., Kansas City, Kan./Penn Valley (Mo.) CC
Freshman of the Year:
Katie Robinette, Nebraska - F, 6-2, Fr., South Sioux City, Neb./South Sioux City HS
