Wildcats Picked Second In Preseason Coaches Poll
Oct 23, 2002 | Women's Basketball
Oct. 23, 2002
DALLAS, Texas - The Kansas State women's basketball team was picked to finish second in the 2002-03 Big 12 Women's Basketball preseason poll and junior Nicole Ohlde was named the league's Preseason Player of the Year as voted on by the league's head coaches, the conference office announced Wednesday.
The Wildcats, who were led to a 26-8 record (11-3 Big 12) and a third-place finish last season by sixth-year head coach Deb Patterson, received 113 points and four first-place votes from the Big 12 coaches.
Texas Tech was tabbed to win the 2003 Big 12 Championship after collecting six first-place votes and a total of 114 points. Texas was chosen third with 105 points and two first-place votes. Oklahoma and Colorado rounded out the top five. The remainder of the preseason poll included: 6. Iowa State; 7. Baylor; 8. Missouri; 9. Oklahoma State; 10. Texas A&M; 11. Kansas; and 12. Nebraska.
Junior All-America candidate Nicole Ohlde was named the 2002-03 Preseason Player of the Year and to the preseason team. Sophomores Laurie Koehn and Kendra Wecker also received votes for the team. Ohdle, a 6-foot-4 center, averaged a team-leading 17.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game. She also ranked among the top 10 in six different statistical categories. She ranked fourth in the Big 12 in scoring, fifth in rebounds, third in field goal percentage, first in blocks, second in defensive rebounds and second in double-doubles.
Kansas State begins exhibition play on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 5 p.m. and opens the regular season on Nov. 15 with a 7 p.m. tipoff vs. Ball State in the Preseason WNIT at Bramlage Coliseum. The annual Big 12 Women's Basketball Media Day is Wednesday, Oct. 30, in Dallas, Texas.
2002-03 Big 12 Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Team
(coaches not allowed to vote for own players)
Nicole Ohlde, Kansas StateC6-4Jr.Clay Center, Kan./Clay Center
Stacey Stephens, TexasF6-1Jr.Winnsboro, Texas/Winnsboro
Jia Perkins, Texas TechG5-8Jr.Granbury, Texas/Granbury
Lindsey Wilson, Iowa StateG5-9Jr.Seattle, Wash./Roosevelt
Plenette Pierson, Texas Tech*F/C6-2SrKingwood, Texas/Kingwood
Caton Hill, Oklahoma*F6-1Sr.Ada, Okla./Ada
*tied for position
(Others Receiving Votes: Laurie Koehn and Kendra Wecker, Kansas State; Keasha Cannon, Nebraska Heather Schreiber, Texas)
Player of the Year:
Nicole Ohlde, Kansas StateC6-4Jr.Clay Center, Kan./Clay Center
Newcomer of the Year:
Maria Villarroel, OklahomaG5-8Jr./TRMargarita, Venezuela/NE Oklahoma A&M
Freshman of the Year:
Erin Grant, Texas TechG5-7Fr.Arlington, Texas/Mansfield
2002-03 Big 12 Conference Women's Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll
(first place votes in parentheses; coaches not allowed to vote for own team)
1. Texas Tech (6)114
2. Kansas State (4)113
3. Texas (2)105
4. Oklahoma88
5. Colorado79
6. Iowa State70
7. Baylor59
8. Missouri55
9. Oklahoma State38
10. Texas A&M32
11. Kansas24
12. Nebraska15
