MWC Women’s Capsules

Tuesday, March 11, 2003 | 9:06 a.m.

Updated March 11, 2003

Compiled by Sun staff writer Steve Guiremand

Air Force

Record: 7-20, 1-13 MWC

Head coach: Ardie McInelly, 2nd season

First round: vs. No. 1 Utah, noon, Wednesday. Lost season series, 2-0.

Top player: Junior forward Shawna Neff, the only Falcon to start every game this season, is averaging 16.3 points and 4.9 rebounds in her last eight games and connected on 41.9 percent of her 3-pointers this year.

Don't overlook: Freshman center Briana Thomas, who led the team in conference play with an average of 5.4 rebounds per game and also is a solid offensive player in the paint.

Why they will win: Their opponents come in extremely overconfident and play poorly.

Why they won't win: Simply overmatched and too young. The Falcons' one star player, sophomore point guard Latoya Howell, was suspended during the season for a breaking an institutional rule but is expected back next year.

BYU

Record: 17-10, 8-6 MWC

Head coach: Jeff Judkins, 2nd season

First round: vs. No. 4 UNLV, 2:30 p.m., Wednesday

Top player: Senior point guard Erin Thorn, who finished second to UNLV's Constance Jinks in scoring during conference play with an 18.4 avg. and led the MWC in assists (6.79 per game), free throw percentage (90.6 percent) and 3-pointers made (3.21 per game).

Don't overlook: Sophomore forward Danielle Cheesman, a second team all-Mountain West pick who averaged 11.1 points and 5.5 rebounds.

Why they will win: Judkins, a former NBA player and Rick Majerus assistant, may be the best coach in the conference. He led the Cougars to a surprising run to the Sweet 16 last year before losing to perennial women's NCAA powerhouse Tennessee, 68-57.

Why they won't win: Cougars lost two key starters during the season in all-Mountain West forward Jennifer Leitner (honor code violation) and starting point guard Julie Whetten-Sullivan (knee).

Colorado State

Record: 17-11, 8-6 MWC

Head coach: Chris Denker, 1st season

First round: vs. No. 6 Wyoming, 8:30 p.m., Wednesday

Top player: Senior forward Ashley Augspurger was a first team all-Mountain West Conference pick after finishing seventh in scoring (13.5 ppg) and eighth in assists (2.93).

Don't overlook: Shannon Strecker, a 6-foot-2 senior center who led the MWC in field goal percentage (61.0 percent) for the third straight year and finished fourth in free throw shooting (81.1 percent).

Why they will win: Rams return four starters from a team that has gone to the NCAA Tournament in back-to-back years and is on a roll, winning six of their last seven, including a 56-44 victory over conference champion Utah.

Why they won't win: Rams have the toughest path to the title, opening with Border War rival Wyoming before likely facing New Mexico, which whipped them by 20, 74-54, two weeks ago. If they get past the Lobos, 25th-ranked Utah or hometown favorite UNLV could be waiting in the wings.

New Mexico

Record: 19-8, 9-5 MWC

Head coach: Don Flanagan, 8th season

First round: vs. No. 7 San Diego State, 6 p.m., Wednesday

Top player: Senior center Jordan Adams, a Moapa Valley High School product, is a four-time all-Mountain West Conference pick who led the league in blocked shots (2.3 per game) and finished in the top five in scoring (15.6 ppg) and rebounding (6.4 rpg).

Don't overlook: Senior forward Chelsea Grear was a second team all-MWC pick who finished fourth in the conference in rebounding (6.5 rpg) and is an excellent offensive rebounder.

Why they will win: Lobos lead the Mountain West and rank ninth nationally in field goal percentage defense (35.1) to go along with a plus-7.3 rebounding margin.

Why they won't win: The Lobos are just 4-7 away from The Pit.

San Diego State

Record: 9-17, 3-11 MWC

Head coach: Jim Tomey, 1st season

First round: vs. No. 2 New Mexico, 6 p.m., Wednesday

Top player: Senior guard Jamey Cox, a three-time all-Mountain West pick who averaged 13.0 points and 2.88 3-pointers per game.

Don't overlook: Freshman forward Ashlee Dunlap, who led the MWC in rebounding (8.8 per game) and was third in blocked shots. She also had nine double-doubles.

Why they will win: Cox is a veteran player capable of getting hot and nailing six treys in a game. Dunlap is a rising star.

Why they won't win: Aztecs ranks near the bottom in just about every major statistical category, including scoring offense (55.7 ppg), field goal percentage (38 percent) and scoring defense (62.7 ppg).

UNLV

Record: 17-10, 8-6 MWC

Head coach: Regina Miller, 5th season

First round: vs. No. 5 BYU, 2:30 p.m., Wednesday

Top player: Senior guard Constance Jinks, who has scored in double figures in all but one game this season and set the conference single-game scoring record with 40 points twice this year at Cal Poly and Air Force.

Don't overlook: Senior guard Julia Gray, the Mountain West defensive player of the year who led the league in steals (3.37 spg) and also averaged 4.9 assists per game.

Why they will win: Lady Rebels get to play on their old home floor and figure to have a big crowd advantage. UNLV is 12-3 at home this season.

Why they won't win: UNLV is shooting just 65.8 percent from the free throw line, a statistic that could come back to haunt it in what figures to be a very competitive tournament.

Utah

Record: 22-5, 12-2 MWC

Head coach: Elaine Elliott, 20th season

First round: vs. No. 8 Air Force, noon, Wednesday

Top player: Freshman forward Kim Smith, a member of the 2002 Canadian National Team, was named both Freshman of the Year and Player of the Year in the Mountain West Conference after averaging 17.0 points and 6.6 rebounds and connecting on 44.4 percent of her 3-point attempts. She has scored in double figures in 27 straight games.

Don't overlook: Sophomore guard Shona Thorburn, who finished fifth in the MWC in scoring with a 14.6 average and fourth in assists (3.26).

Why they will win: Utes cruised through conference play, losing only road games at New Mexico and Colorado State.

Why they won't win: Utah ranks just sixth in field goal percentage (40.7 percent) and fifth in 3-point shooting (33 percent), so it can't afford to fall behind by too much.

Wyoming

Record: 17-10, 7-7 MWC

Head coach: Cindy Fisher, 5th season

First round: vs. No. 3 Colorado State, 8:30 p.m., Wednesday

Top player: Senior forward Carrie Bacon, a three-time all-Mountain West pick, averaged 13.7 points and 6.0 rebounds and has 23 double-doubles in her career.

Don't overlook: Senior center Ann McColl, who averaged 11.1 points and 4.7 rebounds and finished second in the Mountain West Conference in field goal percentage (55.3 percent).

Why they will win: Wyoming actually played better away from Laramie (9-6) than it did at home (8-5).

Why they won't win: Cowgirls are 0-3 in Mountain West Tournament action, including 0-2 against first round foe Colorado State.