For the third straight year, UC Riverside was selected as the preseason favorite to win the Big West Conference title, as voted by the coaches during the conference's annual basketball media day.  The media in attendance agreed with the coaches and pegged the Highlanders to claim their second Big West Conference women’s basketball regular season title.  UC Riverside captured its first-ever conference crown during the 2006-07 season.
   
UC Riverside received five of the nine first place votes in the coaches poll, but only four of the eight from the media. UC Santa Barbara and UC Davis each picked up two first-place votes from both the coaches and the media.
   
With the help of a league-high eight seniors on their roster, the Highlanders return their top seven scorers from a year ago, along with 2006-07 Big West Conference Player of the Year Kemie Nkele.  The redshirt senior enters the year as the top conference returner in points (1,492), rebounds (831), blocks (224) and field goals (553).  Also donning a UC Riverside uniform are 2007-08 All-Big West First Team member Seyram Gbewonyo, who led the Highlanders last season with a 13.2 points per game average, and Brittany Waddell (11.3 PPG).
   
The Gauchos, who won their 13th conference championship last year with a 15-1 record, were picked second in the coaches poll with 55 points and tied the Aggies for second in the media poll. Under the leadership of newly-appointed head coach Lindsay Gottlieb, UC Santa Barbara returns four starters and several key players from a 2007-08 team that went 23-8, won both the Big West regular season and tournament championships and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.  In addition, the Gauchos return Jenna Green, a two-time All-Big West honoree who sat out last season but was award a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA.
   
While tying UC Santa Barbara for second in the media poll with 83 points, the Aggies fell short in the coaches poll and slid into the third spot with two first-place votes and an overall point total of 47, eight shy of second place.  The Aggies return their second leading scorer in All-Big West Second Teamer Haylee Donaghe, who also ranked in the nation’s top 50 in steals last year.  She leads a core of veteran players, which includes Anna Harp and Genevieve Costello.  The Aggies also have their fair share of youth with seven fresh faces, nearly double the amount of any other conference school.
   
Pacific collected 44 points in the coaches poll to place fourth. This season the Tigers have an even mix of experience and youth, as seven upperclassmen (five seniors, two juniors) are joined by three sophomores and four freshman.  They are led by Janae Young, Pacific's returning stat leader in scoring, rebounding and steals.
   
Cal Poly earned fifth place with 35 points and Cal State Fullerton was sixth with 34 points. Rounding out the coaches poll was Long Beach State (25) in seventh, UC Irvine (14) in eighth and Cal State Northridge (10) in ninth.
   
While the coaches and media agreed with UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara and UC Davis as the top three teams, the middle of the pack wasn’t as clear cut.  The media gave Cal State Fullerton 56 points to vault them from sixth to fourth place and also moved Long Beach State up two spots to fifth place with 51 points.  With 49 points, Pacific dropped to sixth place and was followed by the Mustangs with 42 points. UC Irvine (21) and Cal State Northridge (16) placed eighth and ninth, to mirror the coaches’ selection.
   
The media also voted on a six-player preseason all-conference team that included Haylee Donaghe (UC Davis), Karina Figueroa (Long Beach State), Seyram Gbewonyo (UC Riverside), Jenna Green (UC Santa Barbara), Kemie Nkele (UC Riverside) and Toni Thomas (Cal State Fullerton).


2008-09 Coaches Poll Results
1. UC Riverside (5) - 60
2. UC Santa Barbara (2) - 55
3. UC Davis (2) - 47
4. Pacific - 44
5. Cal Poly - 35
6. Cal State Fullerton - 34
7. Long Beach State - 25
8. UC Irvine - 14
9. Cal State Northridge - 10

2008-09 Media Poll Results
1. UC Riverside (4) - 89
T2. UC Santa Barbara (2) - 83
T2. UC Davis (2) - 83
4. Cal State Fullerton - 56
5. Long Beach State - 51
6. Pacific - 49
7. Cal Poly - 42
8. UC Irvine - 21
9. Cal State Northridge - 16

( ) First-place votes

2008-09 Preseason All-Conference Team
Name, School  
Haylee Donaghe, UC Davis    
Karina Figueroa, Long Beach State    
Seyram Gbewonyo, UC Riverside    
Jenna Green, UC Santa Barbara    
Kemie Nkele, UC Riverside    
Toni Thomas, Cal State Fullerton