The Aggies were selected eighth in last year’s coaches poll and ninth in the media preseason poll. NM State finished the season with a 15-16 overall record, 7-11 in WAC, and had senior Stefanie Gilbreath labeled as the 2013 Newcomer of the Year and a second team all-conference selection.
Kansas City (UMKC) was selected sixth with 53 points, Texas-Pan American (40) was seventh with Grand Canyon (38) and Chicago State (18) being picked eighth and ninth. GCU received one first-place vote.
Kacie Sowell of Seattle U was the Preseason Player of the Year selection and was selected as a first-team member on both polls. Joining Sowell on the All-WAC first team coaches poll is Alyssa Charlston (Idaho), Judy Jones (Grand Canyon), Eilise O’Connor (Kansas City) and Sylvia Shephard (Seattle U).
Weber sits alongside Janae Coffee (Bakersfield), Tina Doughty (Utah Valley), Stacey Barr (Idaho) and Tyonna Outland (Bakersfield) on the Preseason Media All-WAC second team.
In the coaches poll, Seattle U had 62 points and six first-place votes, while Idaho was second on the poll with three first-place votes and 59 points. NM State received 47 points for third, Kansas City (36) was fourth, Bakersfield (32) in fifth, Utah Valley (30) was sixth, UTPA (25) was selected seventh and GCU (23) and Chicago (10) State finished in eighth and ninth, respectively.
Stacey Barr (Idaho) made her way onto the first-team of the coaches poll, along with Alyssa Charlston (Idaho), Eilise O’Connor (Kansas City), Sylvia Shephard (Seattle U) and Kacie Sowell (Seattle U).
Weber (NM State), Janae Coffee (Bakersfield), Judy Jones (Grand Canyon), Kim Nezianya (Kansas City) and Ashley Ward (Seattle U) were second team selections.
The Aggies season opens with an exhibition game on Nov. 2 against Western New Mexico in the Pan American Center at 6 p.m. The regular season tips off at UTEP on Nov. 12, at 7:05 p.m.
2013-14 Preseason Women’s Basketball Media Poll
Rank
Teams (1st-Place Votes)
Points
1 Seattle U (11) 115
2 Idaho (1) 100
3 New Mexico State 80
4 Utah Valley 75
5 Bakersfield 66
6 Kansas City 53
7 Texas-Pan Americ 40
8 Grand Canyon (1) 38
9 Chicago State 18
2013-14 Preseason Women’s Basketball Media All-WAC Teams
First Team
Alyssa Charlston, Idaho
Judy Jones, Grand Canyon
Eilise O’Connor, Kansas City
Sylvia Shephard, Seattle U
Kacie Sowell, Seattle U
Second Team
Janae Coffee, Bakersfield
Tina Doughty, Utah Valley
Sasha Weber, New Mexico State
Stacey Barr, Idaho
Tyonna Outland, Bakersfield
Preseason Player of the Year: Kacie Sowell, Seattle U
2013-14 Preseason Women’s Basketball Coaches Poll
Rank
Teams (1st-Place Votes)
Points
1 Seattle U (6) 62
2 Idaho (3) 59
3 New Mexico State 47
4 Kansas City 36
5 Bakersfield 32
6 Utah Valley 30
7 Texas-Pan American 25
8 Grand Canyon 23
9 Chicago State 10
2013-14 Preseason Women’s Basketball Coaches All-WAC Teams
First Team
Stacey Barr, Idaho
Alyssa Charlston, Idaho
Eilise O’Connor, Kansas City
Sylvia Shephard, Seattle U
Kacie Sowell, Seattle U
Second Team
Janae Coffee, Bakersfield
Judy Jones, Grand Canyon
Kim Nezianya, Kansas City
Ashley Ward, Seattle U
Sasha Weber, New Mexico State
Preseason Player of the Year: Kacie Sowell, Seattle U