DENVER, Colo. - The 2005-06 all-Western Athletic Conference teams have been named, following a vote of the WAC's head coaches. The University of Idaho had two players, Emily Faurholt and Leilani Mitchell, named to the all-WAC second team while Mitchell was also selected to the all-Defensive team.
Faurholt ended the regular season as the WAC's leading scorer with a 17.4 points per game average and ranked in the top 10 in the conference in four other categories, including third for free throw percentage (.815), fourth for field goal percentage (.427), fifth for 3-point field goal percentage (.368) and eighth for 3-point field goals made (1.44).
Mitchell ended the regular season leading the WAC in steals, where she ranks third in the nation (4.00 spg), and assists (5.52). She also ranked in the top 10 in the conference in six other categories including second for 3-point field goal percentage (.377) and assist/turnover ratio (1.51), third for field goal percentage (.433) and 3-point field goals made (2.15), fourth for scoring (17.2 ppg), fifth for free throw percentage (.766).
Her all-Defensive team selection stemmed also from her 62 steals in WAC play (fifth all-time) and her 3.875 steals per game average (third all-time). Her current steals total of 108 is just seven from tying the all-time WAC record for steals in season while her steals per game average (4.00) is on pace to break the previous WAC record of 3.79 set by BYU's Tomika Young during the 1990-91 season.
The first team had three repeat performers from last year with Louisiana Tech's Tasha Williams, San Jose State's Lamisha Augustine and Fresno State's Amy Parrish all making their second appearance on the all-WAC first team in as many years. Fresno State senior Mirenda Swearengin not only made her first appearance on the all-WAC team first team, but she was also named the WAC Player of the Year. Swearengin broke Louisiana Tech's streak of four-straight Players of the Year.
Three different schools were represented on the first team. Louisiana Tech is represented by Williams. San Jose State is represented by Augustine and sophomore Amber Jackson, who shot .534 in WAC games and was on the second team during her freshman campaign. Fresno State's Parrish and Swearengin round out the first team. Parrish ended the WAC season third in scoring (16.6 ppg), while Swearengin was third in assists (4.25 apg).
The all-WAC second teamers were Emily Faurholt, Idaho; Leilani Mitchell, Idaho; Shan Moore, Louisiana Tech; Ty Moore, Louisiana Tech and Aarica Ray-Boyd, Louisiana Tech. This was the first all-WAC honor for all five second teamers.
The all-Freshmen team contains players from four different teams. Nevada led the way with two players, Dellena Criner and Brandi Fitzgerald. Boise State's Jessica Thompson, Louisiana Tech's Eboni Mangum and Utah State's Danyelle Snelgro were also named to the all-Freshmen team.
Nevada's Brandi Fitzgerald earned the school's first WAC Newcomer of the Year honor. Fitzgerald led the Wolf Pack to an 8-8 league record which was their second best record since joining the WAC prior to the 2001-02 season.
Louisiana Tech's Chris Long captured his first Coach of the Year honor, leading the Lady Techsters to a 15-1 league record in his first season as head coach. Long's predecessor, Kurt Budke captured Coach of the Year honors in 2002-03 and 2003-04. The Lady Techsters enter the WAC tournament with a 12-game winning streak.
The 2006 WAC Tournament will be held March 7-11, at the Lawlor Events Center in Reno, Nev. The women's tournament schedule includes one first round game on March 7, four quarterfinal games on March 8, semifinals on March 10 and the championship on March 11.
The complete WAC all-conference team and additional honors follows.
2005-06 All-Western Athletic Conference Team
First Team All-WAC
Lamisha Augustine, San Jose State, F, 6-1, Sr., Fresno, Calif. (Roosevelt)
Amber Jackson, San Jose State, F, 6-2, So., Oxnard, Calif. (Oxnard)
Amy Parrish, Fresno State, F, 6-0, Sr., Hanford, Calif. (Reedley JC)
Mirenda Swearengin, Fresno State, G, 5-6, Sr., Houston, Texas (New Mexico JC)
Tasha Williams, Louisiana Tech, G, 5-7, Sr., Kingsland, Ark. (Kingsland)
Second Team All-WAC
Emily Faurholt, Idaho, P, 5-11, Sr,. Kennewick, Wash. (Seattle Pacific)
Leilani Mitchell, Idaho, G, 5-5, Jr., Kennewick, Wash. (Kennewick)
Shan Moore, Louisiana Tech, G, 5-10, Jr., Minden, La. (Minden)
Ty Moore, Louisiana Tech, F, 6-2, Jr., Shreveport, La. (Southwood)
Aarica Ray-Boyd, Louisiana Tech, G, 6-0, Sr., Texarkana, Texas (Liberty-Eylau)
Player of the Year: Mirenda Swearengin, Fresno State
Coach of the Year: Chris Long, Louisiana Tech
Newcomer of the Year: Brandi Fitzgerald, Nevada
2005-06 All-Defensive Team
Lamisha Augustine, San Jose State, F, 6-1, Sr., Fresno, Calif. (Roosevelt)
Brittany Grice, Hawai???i, C, 6-4, Jr., Redondo Beach, Calif. (Redondo Union)
Leilani Mitchell, Idaho, G, 5-5, Jr., Kennewick, Wash. (Kennewick)
Jasmine Plummer, Fresno State, G, 6-0, Jr., Sacramento, Calif. (Natomas)
Tasha Williams, Louisiana Tech, G, 5-7, Sr., Kingsland, Ark. (Kingsland)
2005-06 All-Freshmen Team
Dellena Criner, Nevada, G, 5-7, Fr., Oakland, Calif. (Fremont)
Brandi Fitzgerald, Nevada, G, 5-10, Fr., Moreno Valley, Calif. (Canyon Springs)
Eboni Mangum, Louisiana Tech, G, 5-8, Fr., Sugarland, Texas (John Foster Dulles)
Danyelle Snelgro, Utah State, G, 5-5, Fr., Altadena, Calif. (John Muir)
Jessica Thompson, Boise State, G, 5-9, Fr., Temecula, Calif. (Temecula Valley)
