Oct. 23, 2002

The Aggie women's team, coming off their best season since 1995-96, were picked to finish fourth in the Sun Belt Conference West Division behind Denver, North Texas and South Alabama. New Orleans was picked to finish fifth and UL Lafayette sixth.

"I don't consider us that low on the totem poll," says NMSU coach Nikita Lowry. "It is very difficult for people to pick where we should finish because they don't know our team. We have eight new players so we feel we have an advantage in that nobody knows what we are all about."

The Aggies went 13-16 overall and 6-9 in the Sun Belt Conference, finishing in a tie for fourth in the West Division.

New Mexico State returns three starters including junior Princess Moore (Irving, Texas/MacArthur) and senior Mari Sanchez (Las Cruces, N.M./Onate HS).

Moore was picked to the Sun Belt Conference preseason first team while Sanchez was an honorable mention pick.

Moore led the Aggies by averaging 14.2 points per game. She also led the team in steals and finished third in assists and rebounds.

"That is a credit to her work ethic," says Lowry of Moore's selection. "She is the cornerstone of our team."

Sanchez averaged 11.3 points and 4.0 assists per game last year. She also finished ninth in the nation in 3-point field goals made per game.

"It starts and ends with Mari," says Lowry. "She is a great shooter and I am glad she was recognized for her hard work."

Sun Belt Conference Women's Preseason Poll

East Division

1. Florida International (8) 52

2. Western Kentucky (2) 41

3. Middle Tennessee (1) 38

4. Arkansas State 22

5. Arkansas-Little Rock 12

West Division

1. Denver (7) 61

2. North Texas (2) 52

3. South Alabama (2) 46

4. New Mexico State 35

5. New Orleans 25

6. UL Lafayette 12

Preseason All-Sun Belt Team

Jolie McKeirnan, Sr., F, Arkansas State

Ashley Atkinson, Sr., G, Denver

Cormisha Cotton, Sr., F, Florida International

Mandy Shafer, Sr., F, Florida International

Patrice Holmes, So., G, Middle Tennessee

Princess Moore, Jr., G, New Mexico State

Taneisha Russell, Sr., F, South Alabama

Kristina Covington, Sr., G, Western Kentucky

Leslie Logsdon, Jr., G, Western Kentucky

Shala Reese, Sr., F, Western Kentucky

Honorable mention

Nicky Eason, So., F, Denver

Sarah Richey, Sr., F, UL Lafayette

Jennifer Justice, Jr., F, Middle Tennessee

Mari Sanchez, Sr., G, New Mexico State

Vilma Grismanauskaite, Sr., P, North Texas

Preseason Player of the Year

Cormisha Cotton, Sr., Florida International