Fisher Named Preseason All-AAC First Team; Owls Picked Tied for Second
10/11/2024 12:14:00 PM | Women's Basketball
IRVING – Senior forward Malia Fisher was selected to the 2024-25 American Athletic Conference Preseason All-Conference First Team, the league announced Friday afternoon. The reigning champions of the AAC were predicted to finish tied for second in the conference poll.
Polls and preseason teams are voted on by the league's coaches. Coaches cannot vote for their own teams or players.
Fisher led the Owls in several categories last season, averaging 13.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 0.7 blocks, all leading the team. Her four double-doubles also led the team, while her .429 field goal percentage was fourth on the team. Fisher netted a career-high 30 points at UTSA, while adding 12 rebounds.
Fisher was an All-Conference Third Team selection last season and was the AAC All-Tournament MVP, averaging 14.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game to lead the Owls to the AAC title.
South Florida was selected as the preseason favorite, with regular season co-champion North Texas and conference tournament champion Rice tying for second in the poll. Tulsa and UTSA rounded out the top five.
Fisher, along with Sussy Ngulefac and Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds, will take part in the AAC Media Day next Monday in Irving, Texas.
The full All-Conference teams and polls are listed below.
The Owls are coming off a historic 2023-24 season, highlighted by being crowned champions of the AAC in the team's debut season, the first-ever AAC title for Rice Athletics. Rice secured its fourth trip to the NCAA Tournament in program history and its first trip since 2019.
The 2024-25 season marks the fourth season at Rice for Edmonds. Through her first three seasons, Edmonds has achieved the most wins (56), became the first head coach to open their Rice WBB career with back-to-back-to-back winning seasons, and was the fastest coach to win a conference title in program history. Rice will return 12 from last season's squad, with top point scorers returning with Fisher, Ngulefac, Dominique Ennis and Emily Klaczek.
The Owls' 2024-25 campaign will kick off on Nov. 4, when Rice welcomes the reigning Summit League champion South Dakota State to Tudor Fieldhouse.
Season tickets are $80 for general admission and can be purchased by calling 713-348-OWLS (6957) or by clicking here. Single-game tickets will be released at a later time.
Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. South Florida (8) 135
2. North Texas (3) 124
2. Rice (2) 124
4. Tulsa 98
5. UTSA 96
6. East Carolina 91
7. Memphis 84
8. Temple 78
9. UAB 55
10. Tulane 40
11. Charlotte 38
12. Wichita State 32
13. Florida Atlantic 19
First-place votes in parenthesis
Preseason Players of the Year
Tommisha Lampkin, Gr., F, North Texas
Romi Levy, R-Sr., F, South Florida
Preseason All-Conference First Team
Tommisha Lampkin, Gr., F, North Texas
Malia Fisher, Sr., F, Rice
Romi Levy, R-Sr., F, South Florida
Jordyn Jenkins, R-Sr., F, UTSA
Delanie Crawford, Sr., G, Tulsa
Preseason All-Conference Second Team
Amiya Joyner, East Carolina
Vittoria Blasigh, So., G, South Florida
Mama Dembele, Gr., G, South Florida
Tiarra East, Sr., G, Temple
Kyren Whittington, R-Sr., G, Tulane
Polls and preseason teams are voted on by the league's coaches. Coaches cannot vote for their own teams or players.
Fisher led the Owls in several categories last season, averaging 13.1 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.7 steals and 0.7 blocks, all leading the team. Her four double-doubles also led the team, while her .429 field goal percentage was fourth on the team. Fisher netted a career-high 30 points at UTSA, while adding 12 rebounds.
Fisher was an All-Conference Third Team selection last season and was the AAC All-Tournament MVP, averaging 14.5 points and 7.5 rebounds per game to lead the Owls to the AAC title.
South Florida was selected as the preseason favorite, with regular season co-champion North Texas and conference tournament champion Rice tying for second in the poll. Tulsa and UTSA rounded out the top five.
Fisher, along with Sussy Ngulefac and Shelley Pennington and Friends Head Coach Lindsay Edmonds, will take part in the AAC Media Day next Monday in Irving, Texas.
The full All-Conference teams and polls are listed below.
The Owls are coming off a historic 2023-24 season, highlighted by being crowned champions of the AAC in the team's debut season, the first-ever AAC title for Rice Athletics. Rice secured its fourth trip to the NCAA Tournament in program history and its first trip since 2019.
The 2024-25 season marks the fourth season at Rice for Edmonds. Through her first three seasons, Edmonds has achieved the most wins (56), became the first head coach to open their Rice WBB career with back-to-back-to-back winning seasons, and was the fastest coach to win a conference title in program history. Rice will return 12 from last season's squad, with top point scorers returning with Fisher, Ngulefac, Dominique Ennis and Emily Klaczek.
The Owls' 2024-25 campaign will kick off on Nov. 4, when Rice welcomes the reigning Summit League champion South Dakota State to Tudor Fieldhouse.
Season tickets are $80 for general admission and can be purchased by calling 713-348-OWLS (6957) or by clicking here. Single-game tickets will be released at a later time.
Preseason Coaches' Poll
1. South Florida (8) 135
2. North Texas (3) 124
2. Rice (2) 124
4. Tulsa 98
5. UTSA 96
6. East Carolina 91
7. Memphis 84
8. Temple 78
9. UAB 55
10. Tulane 40
11. Charlotte 38
12. Wichita State 32
13. Florida Atlantic 19
First-place votes in parenthesis
Preseason Players of the Year
Tommisha Lampkin, Gr., F, North Texas
Romi Levy, R-Sr., F, South Florida
Preseason All-Conference First Team
Tommisha Lampkin, Gr., F, North Texas
Malia Fisher, Sr., F, Rice
Romi Levy, R-Sr., F, South Florida
Jordyn Jenkins, R-Sr., F, UTSA
Delanie Crawford, Sr., G, Tulsa
Preseason All-Conference Second Team
Amiya Joyner, East Carolina
Vittoria Blasigh, So., G, South Florida
Mama Dembele, Gr., G, South Florida
Tiarra East, Sr., G, Temple
Kyren Whittington, R-Sr., G, Tulane
Players Mentioned
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