COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (Nov. 1, 2017) -- The Wyoming women's basketball team was picked to finish second as the Mountain West announced its 2017-18 preseason women's basketball poll and preseason team on Wednesday. Senior Liv Roberts was also named to the preseason team.  The voting panel consisted of the league's 11 head coaches and select women's basketball media. It's the highest the Cowgirls have been picked since the 2013-14 season when they were also selected to finish second in the league.

Boise State, the defending Mountain West tournament champion, was tabbed as the preseason league favorite. The Broncos received seven first-place votes and 221 points. Wyoming was picked second with six first-place votes and 216 points, ahead of Colorado State with 211 pints and six first-place votes. New Mexico earned four first-place votes and 186 points, edging out UNLV with 185 points and two first-place votes. Utah State was picked sixth with 135 points, followed by Fresno State in seventh (117 points), San Diego State in eighth (102 points), San Jose State in ninth (61 points), Nevada in tenth (60 points) and Air Force in 11^th (29 points).
 
New Mexico senior guard Cherise Beynon was named the 2017-18 MW Preseason Player of the Year. Beynon averaged 15.8 points, 7.5 boards and 6.6 assists while earning All-MW honors last season. She is joined by Boise State senior Shalen Shaw, Fresno State junior Candice White, San Diego State senior McKynzie Fort and Roberts. New Mexico point guard N'Dea Flye was named Preseason Freshman of the Year, while Tesha Buck New Mexico was selected Preseason Newcomer of the Year.
 
The Cowgirls will open up the exhibition season on Friday, Nov. 3 as they host the Chadron State Eagles. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m. MT. in the Arena-Auditorium.
 
2017-18 MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERENCE PRESEASON POLL
Rk.  Team (1st-place votes)                Points                                    
1.     Boise State (7)                              221
2.     Wyoming (6)                                 216
3.     Colorado State (6)                        211
4.     New Mexico (4)                            186
5.     UNLV (2)                                      185
6.     Utah State                                    136
7.     Fresno State                                117
8.     San Diego State                          102
9.     San José State                            61
10.   Nevada                                        60
11.   Air Force                                       29
 
 
2017-18 MOUNTAIN WEST PRESEASON ALL-CONFERENCE TEAM
Name, Class, Position                          Institution
Shalen Shaw, Sr., F                               Boise State
Candice White, Jr., G                             Fresno State
Cherise Beynon, Sr., G                          New Mexico
McKynzie Fort, Sr., G                            San Diego State
Liv Roberts, Sr., G                                 Wyoming
 
 
Preseason Player of the Year
Cherise Beynon, Sr., G, New Mexico
 
Preseason Freshman of the Year
N'Dea Flye, Fr., G, New Mexico
 
 
Preseason Newcomer of the Year
Tesha Buck, RSr., G, New Mexico