Oct. 22, 2003
DALLAS, Texas - The Baylor women's basketball team was picked to finish sixth in the Big 12 Conference in a survey of the league's coaches, the conference announced Wednesday.
Sophomore Sophia Young, the Big 12's leading rebounder as a freshman last season, received votes in the coaches' voting for the preseason All-Big 12 team.
Texas was picked to win its second consecutive Big 12 Conference women's basketball title. The Longhorns, who advanced to the semifinals of the 2003 Final Four, received 10 first-place votes (coaches not allowed to vote for own team or players) and totaled 120 points. Kansas State was picked second with the other two first-place votes and 111 points. The Wildcats finished second in last year's conference race. Texas Tech (99 points), Oklahoma (87 points), and Colorado (81 points) rounded out the top five. All of these squads represented the Big 12 in the 2003 NCAA Tournament with Texas Tech joining Texas in the Elite Eight and Colorado advancing to the Sweet 16.
Baylor was picked sixth (72 points) and Missouri was seventh (55 points). Both competed in last year's WNIT with Missouri advancing to the third round and Baylor winning its way to the championship game. The remainder of the preseason poll includes Iowa State eighth (53 points), Kansas ninth (40 points), Oklahoma State 10th (35 points), Nebraska 11th (20 points), and Texas A&M 12th (19 points).
Kansas State's Nicole Ohlde was chosen Preseason Big 12 Player of the Year for the second straight year. The 6-4 senior forward/center was Big 12 Player of the Year last year and a consensus All-America. She finished the 2003 season fourth in the Big 12 in scoring with 18.4 ppg and third in rebounding with 9.0 per outing. She was second in the league in field goal percentage, hitting at a 57.3 percent clip.
Ohlde is joined on the preseason All-Big 12 team by her teammate Kendra Wecker, Texas' Stacy Stephens and Heather Schreiber, and Texas Tech's Jia Perkins. All four were first team all-conference selections at the conclusion of the 2003 season. Wecker, a 5-11 junior forward, is the Big 12's top returning scorer after averaging 19.0 ppg last year which was second in the league behind departed Lindsey Wilson of Iowa State's 19.2 ppg. Wecker led the conference in free throw percentage (86.4) and defensive rebounds (6.21) last season and was fourth in overall rebounding (8.3).
Stephens, a 6-1 senior forward, was 12th in the Big 12 in scoring a year ago with 14.4 ppg and second in rebounding with 9.1 rpg. She was also second in offensive rebounds with 3.83 per outing and second in double-doubles with 16. Schreiber, a 6-2 junior forward, averaged 14.3 ppg last year for 13th in the Big 12 and was fifth in rebounding with 8.2 boards per game. She tied for fifth in the league with 10 double-doubles. Perkins, a 5-8 senior guard, was ninth in the conference in scoring with 15.9 ppg and third in steals with 2.57 per game.
Oklahoma State's Elizangela Gomes was named preseason Big 12 Newcomer of the Year. The 6-4 junior center is a transfer from Eastern Oklahoma College who averaged 18.7 points and 8.3 rebounds as a sophomore. Gomes was a second team All-America and first team all-conference selection while being named Region II MVP.
Texas' Tiffany Jackson was selected preseason Big 12 Freshman of the Year. The 6-3 freshman forward from Duncanville High School in Dallas was a consensus first team All-America as a senior while averaging 16.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg and 3.2 spg. She was also WBCA/State Farm and Chevrolet National High School Player of the Year.
The Big 12 kicks off the 2003-04 campaign with its annual Basketball Media Days on Oct. 29 and 30 in Dallas. Women's Media Day will be Wednesday, Oct. 29 followed by the men on Thursday, Oct. 30.
2003-04 Big 12 Conference Women's Basketball Coaches Preseason PollTeam (first place votes)1. Texas (10) 1202. Kansas State (2) 1113. Texas Tech 994. Oklahoma 875. Colorado 816. Baylor 727. Missouri 558. Iowa State 539. Kansas 4010. Oklahoma State 3511. Nebraska 2012. Texas A&M 19
(first place votes in parentheses; coaches not allowed to vote for own team)
2003-04 Big 12 Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Team (coaches not allowed to vote for own players)
Name, School Pos. Ht. Cl/ExpNicole Ohlde, Kansas State F/C 6-4 Sr/3LKendra Wecker, Kansas State F 5-11 Jr/2LStacy Stephens, Texas F 6-1 Sr/3LHeather Schreiber, Texas F 6-2 Jr/2LJia Perkins, Texas Tech G 5-8 Sr/3L
Others Receiving Votes: Jamie Carey, Texas; Caton Hill, Oklahoma; Tera Bjorklund, Colorado; Erin Grant, Texas Tech; Sophia Young, Baylor; Evan Unrau, Missouri
Preseason Player of the Year - Nicole Ohlde, Kansas State (F/C, 6-4, Sr/3L, Clay Center, Kan./Clay Center)
Preseason Newcomer of the Year - Elizangela Gomes, Oklahoma State (C, 6-4, Jr/TR, Sao Paulo, Brazil/Eastern Oklahoma College)
Preseason Freshman of the Year - Tiffany Jackson, Texas (F, 6-3, Fr/HS, Dallas, Texas/Duncanville)
