Oct. 21, 2003

RICHARDSON, Texas - Coaches and media members have picked Hardin-Simmons to repeat as American Southwest Conference West Division champions, but they don't anticipate it to be easy as the Cowgirls and Mary Hardin-Baylor were tied as the pick to win the league.

Mary Hardin-Baylor claimed 10 first-place votes and Hardin-Simmons nine first-place votes in sharing the No. 1 pick with 138 points apiece. Hardin-Simmons claimed its fifth ASC title and advanced to the NCAA sectional tournament en route to a 27-1 (14-0 ASC) record. UMHB finished second in the West (19-7, 11-3 ASC). Howard Payne (116 pts.) and Concordia-Austin (84) were also projected as upper division finishers. McMurry (69), Sul Ross State (63), Texas Lutheran (51) and Schreiner (25) complete the West Division selections. Mississippi College, who rolled through the 2002-03 ASC East schedule undefeated is the pick to win the East. The Lady Choctaws outdistanced second-place pick University of the Ozarks (113). Louisiana College, eligible for the ASC Championship for the first time in 2003-04, was picked third (103) and followed by last season's division runner-up LeTourneau (81) in fourth. Austin College (70), East Texas Baptist (70), first-year conference member UT Tyler (47) and UT Dallas (38) complete the East Division picks.

Last season's two Freshman of the Year award winners were each named as preseason player of the year favorites in their respective divisions. Mississippi College sophomore F Lacey Palomarez, who earned all-ASC and all-division honors a year ago while averaging 19.7 points (.568 fgp), was named as the ASC East Division Preseason Player of the Year. UMHB sophomore F/C Lisa Martinez was named as the ASC West Division Preseason Player of the Year after averaging 18.2 points (.563 fgp) and earning a place on the all-division a year ago.