Oct. 11, 2011

DENVER, Colo. -

The Wyoming Cowgirl basketball team was picked to finish fifth along with UNLV as the Mountain West Conference announced its 2011-12 preseason women's basketball poll and all-conference team today at its Basketball Media Day held at The Mtn. Studios in Denver, Colo. The voting panel consisted of the league's eight head coaches and select women's basketball media.

"I'm surprised with the fifth place selection of our team with the number of points, rebounds and starters we lost from a year ago," said head coach Joe Legerski. "It's difficult to repalce two first team all-MW players, and I understand why we were picked in the bottom half of the conference. Patience will be a key word for this team."

TCU was tabbed as the preseason favorite after finishing second in the Mountain West last season and earning an at-large bid to the Women's National Invitational Tournament. The Horned Frogs received 12 first-place votes and 136 total points.San Diego State collected seven first-place votes and was picked to finish second with 127 points, while third-place Colorado State garnered the remaining first-place vote and 106 points. New Mexico (74 points) placed fourth, followed by UNLV and Wyoming in a tie for fifth (65 points each), Air Force in seventh (42 points) and newcomer Boise State in eighth (39 points). Colorado State senior Kim Mestdagh has been named 2011-12 MW Preseason Player of the Year.

Mestdagh, a 5-10 guard/forward, is the only senior in the league returning from the all-Mountain West team. Mestdagh averaged 17.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game and hit her 1,000th career point last season as a junior. She is joined on the preseason all-MW team by Air Force junior Dymond James, New Mexico junior Sara Halasz, TCU junior Starr Crawford and UNLV senior Jamie Smith.

2011-12 Mountain West Preseason Team