| 2008-09 Women's Basketball Coaches
Pre-Season Poll:
|
| School
| (1st)
| Pts.
| 2007-08 All
| 2007-08 NWC
|
| Whitman (Wash.)
| (4)
| 73
| 14-11
| 8-8
|
| Whitworth (Wash.)
| (3)
| 68
| 13-12
| 8-8
|
| Lewis & Clark (Ore.)
| (1)
| 60
| 14-12
| 10-6
|
| Puget Sound (Wash.)
|
| 56
| 23-5
| 14-2
|
| George Fox (Ore.)
| (1)
| 52
| 25-5
| 14-2
|
| Pacific Lutheran (Wash.)
|
| 42
| 14-11
| 7-9
|
| Linfield (Ore.)
|
| 28
| 12-13
| 5-11
|
| Pacific (Ore.)
|
| 18
| 4-20
| 3-13
|
| Willamette (Ore.)
|
| 17
| 5-20
| 3-13
|
(First-place votes in parenthesis. Points awarded on
10-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1 basis).
Whitman and Whitworth Lead 2008-09 NWC Women's Poll
Spokane, Wash. - A changing of the guard is expected for 2008-09
in Northwest Conference women's basketball, as neither Puget Sound
or George Fox - co-champions each of the last two seasons - top
this year's coaches poll. Whitman edged Whitworth in the
voting.
Whitman picked up four first place votes and 80 points in the
poll. The Missionaries tied for fourth in last years
standings with Whitworth, but return Second Team All-NWC forward
Michelle Krall, along with Jenele Peterson, who earned honorable
mention All-NWC recognition as a freshman last winter.
Whitworth is second in the poll with three first place votes
and 68 points. The Pirates return First Team All-NWC
forward Alida Bower, the only first team honoree returning this
season. Honorable mention guard Natalie Orrell also returns
for Whitworth.
Lewis & Clark, last season's third place finisher, is third
in the poll with 60 points and one first place vote. The
Pioneers graduated First Team All-NWC guard Crystal Castle and
Second Team All-NWC forward Allison Farr. L&C will look
to junior point guard Kim Kittell to lead the way.
Puget Sound (56 points) is fourth in the poll, just ahead of
George Fox (52), despite the fact that George Fox picked up the
final first place vote. The Both teams lost two First Team All-NWC
selections to graduation. For the Loggers it was center
Marissa Cain and guard Laura Hirsch, while the Bruins said goodbye
to 2008 NWC Player of the Year Katy Campbell and post Melissa
Marek-Farris.
Pacific Lutheran is sixth in the poll with 42 points.
The Lutes will rely on senior guard Trinity Gibbons, who was
honorable mention All-NWC last season, but will miss Second Team
All-NWC guard Kyle Haag.
Linfield is seventh in the poll (28 points). The Wildcats
graduated their starting back court in honorable mention
All-NWC honorees Brihtani Lassiter and Casey Stepan.
Pacific is eighth in the poll (18 points), while
Willamette is ninth (17 points). Both must replace their
leading scorers from a year ago.
The Northwest Conference will use a conference tournament to
decide the automatic (Pool A) bid to the NCAA tournament.
The season officially gets underway on Saturday, November
15th.