Boise State women receive unprecedented recognition in Mountain West’s preseason picks
The Boise State women’s basketball team was a narrow favorite in last year’s Mountain West Conference preseason poll, edging Wyoming by five points for the top spot.
There’s little argument about who is expected to be the best in 2018-19.
The Broncos received 19 of 23 first-place votes in a poll of the league’s 11 coaches and select media members that was released Thursday. Boise State collected 229 points, while UNLV was second with 208 points and the four remaining first-place votes.
“We’re excited about being the favorite. I think it’s a tribute to our returnees and the year that they had last year,” Boise State coach Gordy Presnell said. “We went through this last year, and hopefully we can do it again.”
It is only the second time in program history that Boise State has been chosen as a preseason favorite in back-to-back years. The Broncos were picked to win the Western Athletic Conference in 2007-08 and 2008-09.
After setting program and Mountain West single-season records last season with 122 made 3-pointers, Boise State junior guard Riley Lupfer was named the conference’s preseason player of the year.
Lupfer and senior teammate Marta Hermida each made the five-player preseason all-conference team, along with Fresno State senior guard Candice White, New Mexico senior center Jaisa Nunn and UNLV senior forward/center Katie Powell.
“We thought (Lupfer) should have been the Mountain West Conference Player of the Year last year,” Presnell said. “She missed one free throw the whole (conference season) and shot over 50 (percent) from three, so I am excited for her, but it really doesn’t mean anything tomorrow. But it’s kind of fun today.”
Boise State freshman guard Jade Loville received the nod for the Mountain West freshman of the year. The Sammamish, Washington, product averaged 37.1 points and 8.8 rebounds per game as a senior at Skyline High.
The Broncos open the 2018-19 season with an exhibition game against Concordia at 7 p.m. Friday in Taco Bell Arena looking to build on last season’s 23-10 record. Boise State won both the Mountain West regular-season and conference tournaments to earn its third NCAA Tournament appearance in four seasons.
“It’s been a gradual process, kind of just brick by brick,” Presnell said. “Now we’re at this moment, and we have a title to defend.”
Mountain West preseason poll (first-place votes)
1. Boise State (19) 229 points
2. UNLV (4) 208
3. Fresno State 175
4. Wyoming 158
5. New Mexico 150
6. Colorado State 128
7. Nevada 115
8. Utah State 86
9. San Diego State 64
10. Air Force 57
11. San Jose State 27
Preseason All-Mountain West team
Riley Lupfer, G, Jr., Boise State
Marta Hermida, G, Sr., Boise State
Candice White, G, Sr., Fresno State
Jaisa Nunn, C, Sr., New Mexico
Katie Powell, F/C, Sr., UNLV
Preseason Mountain West Player of the Year: Riley Lupfer, G, Jr., Boise State
Preseason Mountain West Freshman of the Year: Jade Loville, G, Boise State
Preseason Mountain West Newcomer of the Year: Mollie Mounsey, G, Jr., Colorado State
This story was originally published November 1, 2018 at 3:56 PM.