Oct. 8, 2008

IRVING, Texas - For the fifth straight year, the Baylor Lady Bears have been selected by the league's coaches to finish among the top four in the Big 12 women's basketball regular season. The Big 12 coaches picked Baylor to finish fourth in the league's annual preseason poll while Oklahoma was tabbed as the preseason favorite.

This season's predictions proved difficult as the 12 first-place votes were spread among five programs. Coaches are not allowed to vote for their own team. The Big 12 is coming off a campaign that produced a conference-record 11 postseason bids, including eight in the 2008 NCAA Championship field.

The Sooners received seven first-place nods and 124 total points as they return four starters, while Texas earned one first-place vote and 95 points to nab second, followed by Iowa State in third with two first-place votes and 93 points. Baylor was picked fourth with one first-place vote and 89 points while 2008 Big 12 postseason champion Texas A&M was chosen fifth with 85 points. Oklahoma State earned the final first-place vote with 79 points in sixth.

Defending Big 12 regular season champion Kansas State was picked seventh followed by Nebraska, Kansas, Texas Tech, Colorado and Missouri.

BU, ISU, KSU, NU, OU, OSU, UT and TAMU competed in the NCAA Tournament last year, as the Big 12 became the first conference in the history of the championship to compile an 8-0 record in first round games. CU, KU and TTU represented the conference in the WNIT.

Big 12 squads return 108 letterwinners to 2008-09 squads, including 41 starters. Conference teams combined lost just 20 seniors from last year with only six of those averaging double-digit scoring.

The 2008-09 regular season gets underway on Friday, Nov. 14. Big 12 head coaches and select student-athletes will convene in Oklahoma City on Oct. 22 for the annual Big 12 Women's Basketball Media Day. Oklahoma City's Cox Convention Center will serve as the site of the 2009 Phillips 66 Big 12 Women's Basketball Championship Thursday-Sunday, March 12-15.

Prior to the season opener, Baylor will play two exhibition games. On Nov. 3 it will take on the Houston Jaguars and on Nov. 7 it will host the Dallas Diesel. Both games will begin at 7 p.m.

2008-09 Big 12 Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
1. Oklahoma (7)-124
2. Texas (1)-95
3. Iowa State (2)-93
4. Baylor (1)-89
5. Texas A&M-85
6. Oklahoma State (1)-79
7. Kansas State-71
8. Nebraska-56
9. Kansas-41
10. Texas Tech-36
11. Colorado-18
12. Missouri-15
(first place votes in parentheses; coaches not allowed to vote for their own team)