Women's Basketball Picked Second In C-USA Preseason Poll
10/18/2005 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Oct. 18, 2005
DALLAS, Texas - Coming off back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, the University of Houston women's basketball team received five of 12 first place votes and was picked to finish second in the Conference USA preseason women's basketball poll.
Rice snagged the other seven first-place votes to take the top spot in the poll. Following the Cougars was SMU, Marshall, Tulsa, UCF, Southern Miss, Memphis, Tulane, UAB, UTEP and East Carolina. Rice's Lauren Neaves was named as preseason player of the year.
"I am pleased from the respect standpoint," head coach Joe Curl said. "Obviously it will be tough on us, losing four starters and seven letterwinners. I don't think any poll has ever ended as it was picked in the preseason. We still will have to work hard every night."
The Cougars, 21-9 last season, have appeared in the postseason in four of the past five years. UH looks to replace four starters from last year's team, including NCAA Division I rebounding leader Sancho Lyttle. The Cougars welcome seven new players, including three junior college transfers and two NCAA Division I transfers.
Tye Jackson (Houston, Texas/Westfield HS/Purdue) and Jasmin Moore (Houston, Texas/Langham Creek HS) were named on the league's `Players To Watch' list. Each player on the list is expected to make significant contributions this season.
"Not only is Tye Jackson a player to watch, I think she could emerge as the MVP of the conference," Curl said.
Jackson and Nichelle Roberts (Houston, Texas/Westfield HS/Kansas) will practice with the team but will not be eligible to play until the close of the fall semester at UH due to NCAA transfer regulations.
The Cougars play host to a pair of exhibitions game on Nov. 4 and Nov. 8 against ev1.net and the Houston Jaguars, respectively. Both contests are scheduled for a 7 p.m. CDT start at Hofheinz Pavilion. UH opens the regular season on Nov. 18 at Big Ten foe Wisconsin.
2005-06 PRESEASON POLL
(1ST place votes)
1. Rice (7)
2. Houston (5)
3. SMU
4. Marshall
5. Tulsa
6. UCF
7. Southern Miss
8. Memphis
9. Tulane
10. UAB
11. UTEP
12. East Carolina
PRESEASON PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Lauren Neaves, Rice
2005-06 "PLAYERS TO WATCH" (UH Only)
Jasmin Moore, Houston, Guard
Tye Jackson, Houston, Guard
