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UH Women's Hoops Picked Second in AAC Preseason Poll; Laila Blair Unanimous All-League
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POSTED: October 12, 2022 -- 8:08 a.m. CT
Wednesday morning, the American Athletic Conference released its Preseason Coaches' Poll and All-Conference teams with the Houston Cougars women's basketball team picked to finish second and junior guard Laila Blair named to the Preseason All-Conference First Team.
Blair led the Cougars in scoring in 2021-22 with 13.3 points per game and total assists with 81, earning All-Conference Second Team honors. This year, the coaches in The American unanimously selected her as an All-Conference First Team selection.
Blair is supported by a veteran cast consisting of graduate forward Tatyana Hill and senior forward Bria Patterson, who each finished fourth and fifth on the team in scoring in 2021-22, respectively, and led the Cougars on the glass, rebounding 7.3 and 4.4 missed shots a game, respectively.
Senior guards Tiara Young and Britney Onyeje, the team's second and third leading scorers in 2021-22, also return for Houston.
The Coogs are coming off an 18-16 season in 2021-22 that extended deep into the postseason as they advanced to The American Championships semifinals and to the Sweet 16 of the WNIT.
Head coach Ronald Hughey’s team was picked to finish second behind South Florida in 2022-23, garnering two first place votes as well.
South Florida earned 99 points, nearly unanimous selection of first place, with Houston garnering 89 points.
Houston's game in Tampa against South Florida Feb. 12 will be broadcast on ESPN2 in a matchup of the conference’s top two preseason teams.
2022-23 American Athletic Conference Preseason Women's Basketball Poll
Rank |
Team (First-place votes) |
Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | South Florida (9) | 99 |
| 2. | Houston (2) | 89 |
| 3. | SMU | 73 |
| 4. | Tulsa | 66 |
| 5. | Tulane | 56 |
| 5. | Memphis | 56 |
| 7. | Temple | 43 |
| 8. | UCF | 38 |
| 9. | Cincinnati | 34 |
| 10. | Wichita State | 32 |
| 11. | East Carolina | 19 |
Preseason Player of the Year -- Elena Tsineke, Sr., G, South Florida
Preseason All-Conference First Team
Laila Blair, Jr., G, Houston*
Elena Tsineke, Sr., G, South Florida
Dulcy Fankam Mendjiadeu, Sr., F, South Florida
Savannah Wilkinson, Sr., F, SMU*
Temira Poindexter, So., F, Tulsa
Preseason All-Conference Second Team
Jillian Hayes, Jr, G, Cincinnati
Jamirah Shutes, 5th, G, Memphis
Dynah Jones, Gr., G, Tulane
Maddie Bittle, Sr., G, Tulsa
Maya Mayberry, Sr., G, Tulsa
*denotes unanimous selection
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