Dymond James Named Preseason All-Conference Selection
10/11/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Oct. 11, 2011
DENVER, Colo. - Junior Dymond James has been named to the 2011-12 Mountain West preseason all-conference team, as announced today at the league's Basketball Media Day held at The Mtn. Studios. James becomes the first Air Force women's basketball player to receive preseason All-Mountain West accolades.
James, a forward from Brambleton, Va., led the Falcons last season in both scoring and rebounding with 11.5 points and 6.8 rebounds per contest. Her 356 points in 2010-11 were the seventh-highest single-season total in Academy Division I history, while her 212 rebounds were third-best. She also led the team with a .439 field goal percentage, ranking seventh all-time in the Academy's Division I era.
Joining James on the preseason All-Mountain West team are Colorado State's Kim Mestdagh, New Mexico's Sara Halasz, TCU's Starr Crawford and UNLV's Jamie Smith. Mestdagh was named the preseason Player of the Year after averaging 17.1 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game as a junior. Meanwhile, San Diego State's Chelsea Tompkins and Chairese Culberson were honored as the preseason Newcomer of the Year and Freshman of the Year, respectively.
In addition to announcing this year's preseason all-conference team, the Mountain West also released the 2011-12 preseason women's basketball poll, voted on by a panel of the league's eight head coaches and select women's basketball media. Air Force finished seventh in the voting, garnering 42 points.
TCU was tabbed as the preseason favorite after finishing second in the Mountain West last season and earning an at-large bid to the Women's NIT. The Horned Frogs received 12 first-place votes and 136 total points. San Diego State collected seven first-place votes and was picked to finish second with 127 points, while third-place Colorado State garnered the remaining first-place vote and 106 points.
New Mexico (74 points) placed fourth in the preseason poll, followed by UNLV and Wyoming in a tie for fifth (65 points each). Rounding out the group was newcomer Boise State in eighth place with 39 points.
