Oct. 17, 2005
IRVING, Texas - The UCF women's basketball team was slated to finish sixth by the Conference USA coaches in the C-USA Preseason Poll released by the league office on Monday.
"We are excited to begin our first season in C-USA and this is a great jumping off point," said UCF head coach Gail Strielger, who is in her seventh year at the helm. "We want to be able to hold onto this position in the middle of the pack and make strides toward the top of the conference."
With seven first place votes, Rice was voted to win the conference title, while crosstown rival Houston was picked second. SMU was selected third followed by Marshall in fourth and Tulsa in fifth.
Southern Miss followed UCF in seventh with Memphis in eighth and Tulane in ninth. Rounding out the poll were UAB, UTEP and East Carolina.
Rice junior forward Lauren Neaves was chosen as the C-USA Preseason Player of the Year. In lieu of a preseason all-conference team, the league office announced a list of players to watch. Among the 23 athletes were UCF senior guard Celeste Hudson and senior forward Shelby Weber.
The Golden Knights open the regular season on Nov. 18 against Florida A&M in the opening round of the UCF Golden Knights Classic.
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 C-USA "PLAYERS TO WATCH" LIST
LaToya Horton, East Carolina, Forward
Cherie Mills, East Carolina, Center
Jasmin Moore, Houston, Guard
Tye Jackson, Houston, Guard
Sikeetha Shepard-Hall, Marshall, Guard
Crystal Champion, Marshall, Forward
Tamika Butler, Memphis, Guard
Devin Necaise, Memphis, Guard
Krystal Frazier, Rice, Guard
Lauren Neaves, Rice, Forward
Katy Cobb, SMU, Guard
Janielle Dodds, SMU, Center
Shannon Stueber, Southern Miss, Forward
Emer Foley, Southern Miss, Forward
Jami Montagnino, Tulane, Guard
Jillian Robbins, Tulsa, Forward
Megan Moody, Tulsa, Forward
Carmen Guzman, UAB, Guard
Crystal McFadden, UAB, Guard
Celeste Hudson, UCF, Guard
Shelby Weber, UCF, Forward
Charnette Phelps, UTEP, Forward
Ana Valtierra, UTEP, Guard