Tulsa Picked Fourth in The American; Three Players Tabbed to Preseason Team
10/12/2022 8:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
The Tulsa women's basketball team was selected fourth in the American Athletic Conference Preseason Coaches' Poll, while Temira Poindexter, Maddie Bittle and Maya Mayberry were named to the preseason all-conference teams, as announced today by the league office.
"These preseason awards are a unique honor for Temira, Maya and Maddie," Head Coach Angie Nelp said. "I am so proud of the work these young women have put into their game and we are honored with the recognition they've received."
Fourth is the Golden Hurricane's best predicted finish since joining the league prior to the 2014-15 campaign. The previous best was sixth place before beginning the 2015-16 season.
South Florida is the preseason favorite with 99 points, followed by Houston (89), SMU (73) and Tulsa (66).
The Golden Hurricane returns seven players from last year's 17-11 and WNIT team, including three starters, while welcoming seven newcomers to this season's roster.
Poindexter was a first team selection, while Bittle and Mayberry were second team honorees. The trio averaged a combined 35.4 points and 11.4 rebounds per game last season. Poindexter, a sophomore from Sapulpa, Okla., who was the 2022 AAC Newcomer of the Year and an all-freshmen team selection, is TU's returning scoring and rebounding leader with 12.3 ppg and 4.6 rpg, while fifth-year seniors Mayberry and Bittle added 12.2 ppg and 10.9 ppg, respectively.
The only previous Tulsa selections to The American's preseason team have been Mayberry, who earned preseason all-conference honors a year ago, and Ashley Clark earned preseason second-team accolades in 2015.
TU will open the season at home against Alcorn State on Monday, November 7 beginning at 6:30 pm at the Reynolds Center.
Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. South Florida
2. Houston
3. SMU
4. Tulsa
5. Tulane
Memphis
7. Temple
8. UCF
9. Cincinnati
10. Wichita State
11. East Carolina
Players Mentioned
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