Central Oklahoma and West Texas A&M are the favorites according to the Lone Star Conference women's basketball preseason polls announced Wednesday.

      The Bronchos shared their first-ever North Division title last year, while the Lady Buffs have captured the last three South Division titles and also won the conference championship a year ago.

      The LSC has 15 teams ready to play this season and the league should be as close as ever with several teams set to challenge WTAMU and UCO.  The season tips off on November 15.

      This season marks a change in the divisional alignments as Texas Woman's was realigned to the North Division after competing in the South Division for the past 11 seasons.

      Here's a closer look at what the voters had to say about LSC women's basketball in 2008-09:

NORTH DIVISION

      After a memorable 2007-08 season, Central Oklahoma is favored to win the Lone Star Conference North Division this season, according to the league's annual women's basketball preseason polls.

      The Bronchos had the second-winningest season in school history - and the first 20-win campaign since 1983-84 - in finishing 24-8 while winning a share of their first-ever divisional title.  Under second-year head coach Guy Hardaker, UCO made its first trip to the NCAA Division II national tournament and played in the LSC championship finals for the first time since 1992.

      UCO collected 13 of 19 first-place votes and totaled 144 points as the top team in the balloting of LSC coaches, sports information directors and various media representatives.

      Texas A&M-Commerce finished second with four first-place nods and 130 points, while defending co-champion Northeastern State was third with a first-place tally and 110 points.

      Southwestern Oklahoma was fourth with 85 points, followed by Southeastern Oklahoma fifth with 82, Texas Woman's sixth with 63, East Central seventh with 40 and Cameron eighth with 30.

SOUTH DIVISION

      West Texas A&M is the top choice in the Lone Star Conference South Division after winning its third straight divisional title and the LSC Championship last season, according to the preseason polls.

      The Lady Buffs posted a 13-1 conference record en route to earning the right to host the NCAA South Central Regional with a 26-5 overall mark.  Senior Emily Brister, the reigning three-time LSC South Player of the Year, returns to lead WTAMU.

      WTAMU received 14 of 18 first-place votes and totaled 116 points as the top pick in the balloting of LSC coaches, sports information directors and various media representatives.

      Abilene Christian, the only team to beat WTAMU last season, was picked second in the poll, with three first-place votes for 106 points.  Angelo State was third with 89 points and the remaining first-place vote.

      Rounding out the poll was Tarleton State in fourth with 75, Midwestern State fifth with 53, Texas A&M-Kingsville sixth with 36 and Eastern New Mexico seventh with 29.

 

Rank	NORTH DIVISION	1st	TOTAL
1	Central Oklahoma	13	144
2	Texas A&M-Commerce	4	130
3	Northeastern State	1	110
4	Southwestern Oklahoma	1	85
5	Southeastern Oklahoma		82
6	Texas Woman's		63
7	East Central		40
8	Cameron		30

 

Rank	SOUTH DIVISION	1st	TOTAL
1	West Texas A&M	14	116
2	Abilene Christian	3	106
3	Angelo State	1	89
4	Tarleton State		75
5	Midwestern State		53
6	Texas A&M-Kingsville		36
7	Eastern New Mexico		29