University of Connecticut Athletics
Samuelson Named Preseason POTY; Huskies Chosen to Win Conference
10/15/2018 10:55:00 AM | Women's Basketball
PHILADELPHIA – UConn women's basketball senior guard/forward Katie Lou Samuelson was tabbed the American Athletic Conference Preseason Player of the Year, as announced at the league's Media Day Monday.
Samuelson and fellow senior Napheesa Collier were unanimously selected to the Preseason All-Conference First Team while junior Crystal Dangerfield was also named to the first team. UConn was chosen as the conference favorite with 121 points and 10 first place votes in the Preseason Coaches' Poll.
The Huskies are 86-0 in league play since joining the American in 2013. UConn has won the conference's regular season and tournament titles in each of the last five seasons.
The American Player of the Year for the last two seasons, Samuelson led UConn with 17.4 points per game last season. She led the nation with a 47.5 three-point field goal percentage. The Huntington Beach, Calif., native was named a WBCA, AP and USBWA First Team All-American in 2018.
Collier tied for the team lead with 7.4 rebounds per game last season while ranking second on the team with 16.1 points per game. She also notched 122 assists, 63 blocks and 60 steals. The O'Fallon, Mo., native was named a 2018 AP Third Team All-American. Collier was a finalist for the USA Basketball roster for the 2018 FIBA World Cup and spent September training with the U.S. National Team.
Dangerfield was named to the conference's third team and all-tournament team in 2018. She tallied 142 assists last season, good for second on the team. The Murfreesboro, Tenn., native also notched 59 steals and 9.5 points per game.
UConn hosts Vanguard in an exhibition on Sunday, Nov. 4, at Gampel Pavilion before opening the 2018-19 season against Ohio State on Sunday, Nov. 11, at noon in Storrs.
Place (First place votes) Points
1. UConn (10) 121
2. USF (1) 111
3. Houston 95
4. UCF 92
5. Cincinnati 74
6. Temple 72
7. SMU 55
8. ECU 46
9. Tulane 42
10. Wichita State 35
11. Memphis 25
12. Tulsa 24
Preseason Player of the Year
Katie Lou Samuelson, UConn
Preseason All-Conference Team
First Team
Napheesa Collier, UConn*
Crystal Dangerfield, UConn???????
Katie Lou Samuelson, UConn*
Jasmyne Harris, Houston
Kitija Laksa, USF*
Second Team
Angela Harris, Houston
Laura Ferreira, USF
Alicia Froling, SMU
Alliya Butts, Temple
Mia Davis, Temple
*denotes unanimous selection
