|
(Oct. 24, 2007) –
UC Riverside was selected to claim its second consecutive
Big West Conference women’s basketball regular season
title, as voted by the coaches and media during the conference’s
annual basketball media day. UC Santa Barbara was picked second
in both polls, while first-year member UC Davis earned the
third spot in the coaches’ poll and Cal Poly grabbed
third place in the media poll.
The Highlanders, who are
coming off their first-ever Big West Conference regular season
championship and second straight tournament title, return
all 13 players from last year’s record-breaking season.
Last year’s squad set new school records for victories,
league wins, fewest points allowed, blocked shots and three-pointers
made and attempted. UC Riverside returns three-time All-Big
West First Team selection and 2006-07 Big West Player of the
Year, Kemie Nkle, who was selected to the preseason all-conference
team along with teammate Seyram Gbewonyo.
Nkele continues to accumulate
awards from the Big West Conference, earning a spot on the
preseason all-conference team for the third straight season.
A three-time member of the All-Big West First Team, Nkele
was the 2007 Big West Player of the Year as well as the Big
West Conference Tournament Most Valuable Player.
Gbewonyo was named to the
preseason all conference team for the first time in this her
junior year. A season ago she was named Big West Conference
Honorable Mention and was a key figure in the Highlanders’
title run. Gbewonyo’s 18 second half points in the Big
West Championship Game helped secure UCR’s second conference
title.
UC Riverside went 21-11
last season for its third straight winning season under Head
Coach John Margaritis. The Highlanders finished atop the Big
West with a 12-2 record, winning their second consecutive
Big West Tournament title and the conference’s automatic
bid to the NCAA Tournament.
|
