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Malia Fisher Named Preseason All-AAC First Team; Rice Owls Picked Tied for Second
POSTED: October 11, 2024 -- 2:02 p.m. CT
Rice Owls senior forward Malia Fisher was selected to the 2024-25 American Athletic Conference Preseason All-Conference First Team, the league announced Friday afternoon. The reigning champions of the AAC were predicted to finish tied for second in the conference poll.
Polls and preseason teams are voted on by the league's coaches. Coaches cannot vote for their own teams or players.
Fisher led the Owls in several categories last season, averaging 13.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 0.7 blocks, all leading the team. Her four double-doubles also led the team, while her .429 field goal percentage was fourth on the team. Fisher netted a career-high 30 points at UTSA, while adding 12 rebounds.
Fisher was an All-Conference Third Team selection last season and was the AAC All-Tournament MVP, averaging 14.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game to lead the Owls to the AAC title.
South Florida was selected as the preseason favorite, with regular season co-champion North Texas and conference tournament champion Rice tying for second in the poll. Tulsa and UTSA rounded out the top five.
Fisher, along with Sussy Ngulefac and Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds, will take part in the AAC Media Day next Monday in Irving, Texas.
The full All-Conference teams and polls are listed below.
The Owls are coming off a historic 2023-24 season, highlighted by being crowned champions of the AAC in the team's debut season, the first-ever AAC title for Rice Athletics. Rice secured its fourth trip to the NCAA Tournament in program history and its first trip since 2019.
The 2024-25 season marks the fourth season at Rice for Edmonds. Through her first three seasons, Edmonds has achieved the most wins (56), became the first head coach to open their Rice WBB career with back-to-back-to-back winning seasons, and was the fastest coach to win a conference title in program history. Rice will return 12 from last season's squad, with top point scorers returning with Fisher, Ngulefac, Dominique Ennis and Emily Klaczek.
The Owls' 2024-25 campaign will kick off on Nov. 4, when Rice welcomes the reigning Summit League champion South Dakota State to Tudor Fieldhouse.
2024-25 American Women's Basketball Preseason Poll and Honors
Rank |
Team (First-place votes) |
Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | South Florida (8) | 135 |
| 2. | North Texas (3) | 124 |
| Rice (2) | 124 | |
| 4. | Tulsa | 98 |
| 5. | UTSA | 96 |
| 6. | East Carolina | 91 |
| 7. | Memphis | 84 |
| 8. | Temple | 78 |
| 9. | UAB | 55 |
| 10. | Tulane | 40 |
| 11. | Charlotte | 38 |
| 12. | Wichita State | 32 |
| 13. | Florida Atlantic | 19 |
2024-25 Preseason Players of the Year:
Tommisha Lampkin, Gr., F, North Texas and Romi Levy, R-Sr., F, South Florida
2024-25 Preseason Freshman of the Year: Jared Harris, G, Memphis
2024-25 Preseason All-Conference First Team
Tommisha Lampkin, Gr., F, North Texas
Malia Fisher, Sr., F, Rice
Romi Levy, R-Sr., F, South Florida
Jordyn Jenkins, R-Sr., F, UTSA
Delanie Crawford, Sr., G, Tulsa
2024-25 Preseason All-Conference Second Team
Amiya Joyner, Jr., F, East Carolina
Vittoria Blasigh, So., G, South Florida
Mama Dembele, Gr., G, South Florida
Tiarra East, Sr., G, Temple
Kyren Whittington, R-Sr., G, Tulane
CLICK HERE for more news and info about the Rice Owls men's basketball team.
