Texas Border Business
DENVER, Colo. – The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) women’s basketball team learned on Tuesday that redshirt senior guard Amara Graham is part of the Preseason All-WAC Coaches and Media First Teams.
Â
Additionally, UTRGV was picked to finish third in the media poll and fifth in the coaches poll.
Â
Last season, Graham averaged 10.8 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in 28 games (24 starts), while averaging 13.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.1 assists in WAC play. Graham led the WAC in three-point percentage (.427), second in free throw percentage (.818), seventh in shooting percentage (.458), and ninth in assists per game.
Graham reached double-figures in scoring 14 different times last season, including setting a career-high with 25 points against Chicago State, while leading the team in scoring five times and assists 11 times.
UTRGV was picked to finish ahead of New Mexico State, Seattle U, Grand Canyon, Tarleton, Dixie State, and Chicago State with 56 points in the media poll while being picked ahead of Seattle U, Tarleton, Dixie State, and Chicago State with 44 points in the coaches poll.
California Baptist was picked as the favorite in the media poll with five first place votes and 61 points while Utah Valley was picked to finish second.
Utah Valley was picked as the favorite in the coaches poll with two first place votes and 57 points with California Baptist picked second, Grand Canyon picked third and New Mexico State picked to finish fourth.
Coaches Preseason All-WAC First Team | Media Preseason All-WAC First Team | |||
Name | Team | Name | Team | |
Ane Olaeta* | California Baptist | Ane Olaeta* | California Baptist | |
Amara Graham | UTRGV | Amara Graham | UTRGV | |
Josie Williams | Utah Valley | Maria Carvalho | Utah Valley | |
Maria Carvalho | Utah Valley | Aaliyah Prince | New Mexico State | |
Aaliyah Prince | New Mexico State | Britney Thomas | California Baptist | |
*Preseason Player of the Year | *Preseason Player of the Year | |||
Coaches Preseason All-WAC Second Team | Media Preseason All-WAC Second Team | |||
Name | Team | Name | Team | |
Laura Piera | Grand Canyon | Josie Williams | Utah Valley | |
Courtney Murphy | Seattle U | Courtney Murphy | Seattle U | |
Soufia Inoussa | New Mexico State | Georgia Dale | California Baptist | |
Alexa Hoy | Tarleton | Caitlyn Harper | California Baptist | |
McKenzi Williams | Seattle U | Soufia Inoussa | New Mexico State |
WAC Preseason Coaches Poll | WAC Preseason Media Poll | |||||
Rank | Team (First Place Votes) | Points | Rank | Team (First Place Votes) | Points | |
1. | Utah Valley (2) | 57 | 1. | California Baptist (5) | 61 | |
2. | California Baptist (4) | 55 | 2. | Utah Valley (1) | 60 | |
3. | Grand Canyon (2) | 47 | 3. | UTRGV | 56 | |
4. | New Mexico State (1) | 45 | 4. | New Mexico State (1) | 53 | |
5. | UTRGV | 44 | 5. | Seattle U | 41 | |
6. | Seattle U | 29 | 6. | Grand Canyon (1) | 39 | |
7. | Tarleton | 23 | 7. | Tarleton | 23 | |
8. | Dixie State | 13 | 8. | Dixie State | 17 | |
9. | Chicago State | 11 | 9. | Chicago State | 10 |