COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Aztec women's basketball team was picked to finish fifth in the Mountain West preseason poll, the conference office announced Thursday morning.
This is the highest the Aztecs have been picked in the preseason poll since 2013-14, head coach Stacie Terry's first season, when SDSU was tabbed third.
SDSU finished with 14 wins in the 2018-19 season, the most they have had under head coach Stacie Terry, and made a run to the Mountain West Tournament semi-finals. The Aztecs return eight letterwinners and four starters from last year's team, led by the sophomore duo of Sophia Ramos and Mallory Adams, who both were selected to the Mountain West All-Freshman Team a year ago
In total, the Aztecs return 74 percent of their scoring from last season and 81 percent of their rebounding. SDSU lost just one starter and three scholarship players from 2018-19.
The Aztecs have three newcomers this year. Freshmen Isabela Hernandez and Talia Sireni and Oregon State transfer Taylor Kalmer, who redshirted last year. Kalmer, a 5'8" guard, helped the Beavers reach three consecutive NCAA tournament, including the 2016 Final Four, and averaged 6.0 points in the 2017-18 season. Hernandez (Bellingham, Wash.), a 6'2" wing, will bring length and versatility and to Aztecs and Sireni (Surrey, B.C., Canada) will provide depth in the SDSU backcourt.
Reigning champ Boise State was picked to win the conference, picking up 25 of 29 first place votes. New Mexico, last year's No. 2 seed, picked up three first place votes and was predicted to finish second. They were following by Fresno State and Wyoming.
Following SDSU in fifth was Colorado State, UNLV, Utah State, Nevada, Air Force and San Jose State.
Boise State's Brayden Hodgins was selected as the Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year. She as joined on the All-MW preseason team by teammate Riley Lupfer, New Mexico's Aisia Roberstson and Jayla Everett and Fresno State's Maddi Utti.
Mallory McGwire of Boise State was named the Preseason Newcomer of the Year and Haley Cavinder (Frenso St.) and Corina Carter (New Mexico) were Preseason Co-Freshmen of the Year.
2019-20 Mountain West Predicted Order of Finish (first place votes):
- Boise State (25) - 305
- New Mexico (3) - 280
- Fresno State - 228
- Wyoming - 201
- San Diego State - 192
- Colorado State - 185
- UNLV - 130
- Utah State - 116
- Nevada - 115
- Air Force - 85
- San Jose State (1) - 77
Mountain West Preseason Player of the Year:
Braydey Hodgins, Boise State
Mountain West Preseason Co-Freshman of the Year:
Haley Cavinder, Fresno State
Corina Carter, New Mexico
Mountain West Preseason Newcomer of the Year:
Mallory McGwire, Boise State
Mountain West Preseason All-Conference Team:
Braydey Hodgins, Boise State
Aisia Robertson, New Mexico
Riley Lupfer, Boise State
Maddi Utti, Fresno State
Jayla Everett, New Mexico