Oct. 11, 2000

Walnut Creek, Calif. - The Washington women's basketball team has been picked to finish sixth the Pacific-10 Conference race, along with UCLA, in the preseason coaches poll. The Huskies, who finished ninth last season, return four of five starters from the squad that posted a record of 8-22 last year.

With four returning starters from last year's NCAA Tournament team, Stanford has been tabbed by the Pac-10 women's basketball coaches as the team to beat in the 2000-01 season. The Cardinal tied with Arizona for second place in the Conference with a 13-5 league record last season, while Oregon captured its second straight Pac-10 title.

Stanford, which finished 21-9 overall and advanced to the second round of the NCAA West Regional last season, garnered nine first-place votes in the preseason poll, while Oregon earned one first-place vote. The Cardinal made its 13th straight NCAA Tournament appearance last season.

This is the first time that Stanford has been tabbed by the coaches as the Conference preseason favorite since the poll's inception in 1998-99. The Cardinal was last picked to win the Pac-10 race by the media in 1997-98.

Washington opens practice for the 2000-2001 season this Saturday, Oct. 14, at 2 p.m. at Miller Community Center, 330 19th Ave. E.

2000-01 PAC-10 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL COACHES POLL(first place votes in parentheses)

Team	Pts.
1.  Stanford (9)	90
2.  Oregon (1)	78
3.  USC	70
4.  Arizona	66
5.  Arizona State	57
6t.  UCLA	49
       Washington	49
8.  Oregon State	34
9.  California	29
10. Washington State 	18