LAFAYETTE, La. - Middle Tennessee senior guard Chrissy Givens was voted Sun Belt Preseason Player of the Year and the Blue Raiders were picked first in the East by the league coaches as announced Monday by the conference office. Senior forward Krystle Horton was named Second Team All-Conference.
Givens, who is the reigning Sun Belt Player of the Year, becomes the second player in Blue Raider women's basketball history to be voted the preseason favorite in the Sun Belt. She was also voted First Team Preseason All-Conference. Former standout Patrice Holmes was also awarded the honor in 2004.
"Chrissy is a consummate team player and she has gotten this award because of her work ethic and the year she had last year," said Head Coach Rick Insell. "Most players can't handle the kind of attention that comes with this type of award, but Chrissy can, because she will continue to go out and do what she needs to do to help this team win basketball games. In the end it is all about the team with Chrissy Givens."
Earlier this month Givens was named a Street & Smith Preseason Honorable Mention All-American and the Sun Belt honor only compliments her growing list of preseason honors. Givens ended the 2005-06 season ranked eighth in the nation in scoring averaging 21.5 points per game as was also voted Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Year and Sun Belt Tournament MVP.
For the third-straight season, Horton has been recognized on a preseason list. The senior forward was a Third-Team selection to close out the season last year, averaging 11.9 points per game and ranking second in the Sun Belt in field goal percentage with 51.2 percent.
"Krystle Horton is a good as any player in this conference," Insell said. "If she can put together the kind of consistency I know she can play at then she has the capability to be the player of the year in this conference just as much as Chrissy. That is how much confidence I have in her."
For the second time, since joining the Sun Belt, Middle Tennessee has been tabbed first in the Sun Belt Preseason poll. The Blue Raiders received 74 points and nine first-place votes to take the top spot. Middle Tennessee was also picked first in 2004.
"I don't put a lot of stock in preseason polls and I don't mean that in a negative way," Insell said. "There are so many good teams in our conference and the end of the year comes down to who is playing well, who has good chemistry and who is healthy."
Western Kentucky was voted second with 67 points and three first-place votes and was followed by Florida International with 52 points and one first place vote. South Alabama (38) was picked fourth while Troy and Florida Atlantic (21) tied for fifth.
Arkansas State was voted first in the Sun Belt West with 87 points and 10 first place votes. North Texas (65), was second followed by Louisiana-Lafayette (64), Arkansas-Little Rock (55), Denver (48), Louisiana-Monroe (31) and New Orleans (14) rounds out the poll.
Middle Tennessee opens the season at 7 p.m. on November 1 with an exhibition game with Henderson State in the Murphy Center.
Preseason Women's Basketball Coaches Poll First place votes in parenthesis
East Division
1. Middle Tennessee (9) 74
2. Western Kentucky (3) 67
3. Florida International (1) 52
4. South Alabama 38
T5. Florida Atlantic 21
T5. Troy 21
West Division
1. Arkansas State (10) 87
2. North Texas (1) 65
3. Louisiana-Lafayette (2) 64
4. UALR 55
5. Denver 48
6. Louisiana-Monroe 31
7. New Orleans 14
Preseason Women's Basketball All-Conference Team First Team
Jocelyn Love (UALR, Sr., G/F)
Adrianne Davie (Arkansas State, Sr., C)
Chrissy Givens (Middle Tennessee, Sr., G)
Yolanda Jones (Louisiana-Lafayette, Sr., F)
Crystal Kelly (Western Kentucky, Jr., F)
Second Team
Rudy Sims (Arkansas State, Sr., G)
Tyesha Lowery (Denver, Sr., G)
Lasma Jekabsone (Florida International, Sr., C)
Krystle Horton (Middle Tennessee, Sr., F)
Whitney Woodard (South Alabama, Sr., F)
Third Team
Renee Renz (UALR, So., F)
Le'Della English (New Orleans, Jr., G)
Talicia Sanders (North Texas, Jr., C)
Laura Lee Holman (Troy, Sr., G)
Tifany Zaragoza (Western Kentucky, Sr., G)
Preseason Player of the Year Chrissy Givens (Middle Tennessee, Sr., G)
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