Oct. 21, 2009
SAN BRUNO, Calif. - Gonzaga University was chosen as the favorite to claim the West Coast Conference women's basketball title for the second straight year in the 2009-10 preseason coaches poll. The Bulldogs, who received the maximum seven first place votes for a total of 49 points, won their fifth-straight WCC regular-season title, the WCC Tournament and earned their second-ever bid to the NCAA Tournament a season ago. As a 12th seed in last year's NCAA Tournament, Gonzaga upset the No. 5 seeded Xavier University in the first round, 74-59, before nearly accomplishing the same feat against No. 4 seeded University of Pittsburgh, losing 65-60. Loyola Marymount received the remaining first place vote and totaled 39 points to come in second in the voting.
Headlining the group of Gonzaga returners is 2009 WCC Player of the Year and WCC Tournament MVP, junior guard Courtney Vandersloot as well as the 2008 WCC Player of the Year, senior forward Heather Bowman. Both Vandersloot and Bowman were named to this year's Wooden Award Watch List, making Gonzaga just one of four schools in the country (Connecticut, Ohio St., and Stanford) with two players on the list. Both players were also named to this year's preseason all-conference team, along with senior forward Vivian Frieson. Bowman led the league in scoring last year, while Vandersloot was the leader in assists.
Loyola Marymount will be led by junior guard Renahy Young, who led the team in scoring at 14.7 ppg and three-point percentage at .328. Young was named to the preseason all-conference team for the second straight year and was joined by teammate, sophomore guard Alex Cowling.
Pepperdine finished third in this year's poll with 34 points and returns one starter from last year's team that finished third in the conference in senior center Miranda Ayim, who was also named to this year's preseason all-conference team.
Portland collected 31 points to finish fourth in this year's poll. The Pilots will return preseason All-WCC member, senior guard Laiken Dollente, who was fifth in the league in scoring at 15.3 ppg. Portland returns three starters from a team that finished in second place last season, and advanced to the WNIT.
Saint Mary's is expected to finish fifth this season, with 29 points in this year's poll. The Gaels had two players named to the preseason all-conference team in junior center Louella Tomlinson and senior guard Jontelle Smith, who missed last season due to injury. San Diego, with 22 points, was picked sixth in this year's poll. The Toreros will be led by preseason All-WCC member, sophomore guard Dominique Conners, who was second amongst all freshmen in the league in scoring (10.2).
San Francisco and Santa Clara round out this year's poll with 10 points each.
2009-10 West Coast Conference Preseason Poll
1. Gonzaga - 49 (7)
2. Loyola Marymount - 39 (1)
3. Pepperdine - 34
4. Portland - 31
5. Saint Mary's - 29
6. San Diego - 22
7. San Francisco - 10
Santa Clara - 10
(First place votes)
West Coast Conference Preseason All-Conference Team
Miranda Ayim - PEP - SR - F
Heather Bowman - GON - SR - F
Dominique Conners - USD - SO - G
Alex Cowling - LMU - SO - F
Laiken Dollente - POR - SR - G
Vivian Frieson - GON - SR - F
Lena Gipson - SCU - JR - F
Jontelle Smith - SMC - SR - G
Louella Tomlinson - SMC - JR - F
Courtney Vandersloot - GON - JR - G
Renahy Young - LMU - JR - G
