RICHARDSON, Texas -- Hardin-Simmons University and the University of Texas at Dallas have been predicted to win the American Southwest Conference West and East Division titles, respectively, after a vote of each division's head coaches, sports information directors and media members, the conference office announced on Wednesday (Oct. 21). HSU's Lindsey Newcombe and Louisiana College's Tillisha Givens earned 2009-10 preseason player of the year honors.

Hardin-Simmons, which went 22-6 overall and 16-5 in league play last season on its way to reaching the title game in the ASC Championship Tournament, totaled 177 points and picked up 12 of the possible 24 West Division first-place votes in the annual poll. Head coach Shanna Briggs' Cowgirls led the league in scoring last season at 77.2 points per game. HSU won seven straight ASC titles from 1998-2004.

Three-time defending ASC champion Howard Payne (23-6, 16-5 ASC) was picked to finish second in the West, totaling 169 points and eight top-spot votes. The Lady Jackets have won four of the last five conference titles and claimed the national championship in 2008. Defending West Division champion McMurry University (21-6, 17-4 ASC) landed in the third-place spot with 142 points and two first-place votes. The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (14-13, 12-9) totaled 129 points and picked up the final two first-place votes to round out what would be the division's four teams to qualify for the ASC tournament. Concordia University Texas (93 pts.) was predicted to finish fifth, followed by Texas Lutheran University (75 pts.), Schreiner University (49 pts.) and Sul Ross State University (30 pts.).

Texas-Dallas, which went 21-5 overall and 18-2 in league play in 2008-09 to win its first ever East Division title, totaled 132 points and 12 of the possible 21 first-place votes to narrowly be the favorite ahead of Mississippi College. Head coach Polly Thomason's Comets also earned their first ever national ranking last year and became the first team in 39 tries to defeat Howard Payne. UTD also completed a regular-season sweep against the West Division.

Mississippi College (22-5, 17-3 ASC) was predicted to finish in second place with 131 points and seven top-spot votes. The Lady Choctaws received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament last season. Louisiana College (16-9, 12-8 ASC) was the third-place pick with 93 points and the final two first-place votes. The University of Texas at Tyler (15-11, 12-8 ASC) garnered 89 points and rounded out what would be the division's four league tournament qualifiers. East Texas Baptist University (75 pts.) was picked to finish fifth, followed by LeTourneau University (35 pts.) and University of the Ozarks (33 pts.).

Hardin-Simmons' Newcombe (Keller, TX / KHS), a 6-2 junior center, was named ASC West Division Preseason Player of the Year. She averaged 17.3 points, 13.8 rebounds and three blocked shots per game. Her rebounding and blocked shot averages were ASC-highs and the totals (385 rebounds, 83 blocks) set new ASC single-season records.

Louisiana College's Givens (Monroe, LA / Ouachita Parish HS), a 5-9 junior guard/forward, was named ASC East Division Preseason Player of the Year for the second straight time. She averaged 17.4 points, 10.5 rebounds and 2.3 steals per game in 2008-09. Givens also logged the third-most minutes per game in the league (36.5).

Newcombe and Givens both earned division player of the year honors in 2008-09 and were members of the five-player ASC All-Conference Team. They also landed on their respective division's first team.

The 2009-10 season - the 14th in league history - begins as early as November 15. The three-day, eight-team, single-elimination conference tournament is slated for February 26-28 at the site of the East Division's top seed and an automatic berth into the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship will be on the line.

2009-10 ASC PRESEASON WOMEN’S BASKETBALL POLL

[Voted on by ASC Head Coaches, Sports Information Directors and Media Members]

WEST DIVISION

EAST DIVISION

2009-10 ASC PRESEASON WOMEN’S BASKETBALL PLAYERS OF THE YEAR

[Voted on by ASC Head Coaches, Sports Information Directors and Media Members]

WEST DIVISION

EAST DIVISION