Colorado State University Athletics
Mestdagh tabbed as MW preseason Player of the Year
10/11/2011 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
Oct. 11, 2011
By Danielle Marshall
Athletic Media Relations
CENTENNIAL, Colo. - The Colorado State women's basketball team was selected to finish third in the Mountain West's preseason poll, and senior Kim Mestdagh received preseason Player of the Year honors at the conference media day at The Mtn. studios.
TCU led the charge with 12 first-place votes, followed by San Diego State in second place with seven first-place votes. The Rams received one first-place vote to round out the top three. New Mexico was predicted to finish fourth, followed by UNLV who tied with Wyoming to finish fifth, then Air Force placed seventh and conference newcomer Boise State was picked to finish in the eighth spot.
Head Coach Kristen Holt was pleased with the results.
"It's something I think shows that we continue to improve," she said. "This is the most talent I've had as a group."
Mestdagh, a two-time second-team all-conference award winner, led the Rams to a fourth-place finish in 2010-11 averaging 17.1 points per game, currently 10th on the all-time points list at Colorado State. She is the first CSU player to receive the honor since Becky Hammon in 1998.
"Kim has become such a leader," said Holt. "She works hard every single day, she's very deserving."
This season the Rams return three starters in Mestdagh and sophomore captains Sam Martin and Hayley Thompson. Other letterwinners returning include Kelly Hartig and Amber Makeever. Red shirt junior Meghan Heimstra will see action again this season after sitting out last year with a hip injury. CSU also returns red shirt freshman Mandy Makeever, who played in only one game last season before falling prey to a shoulder injury.
Colorado State brings in five freshmen this season: Carlyn Chavez (Portland, Ore.), LaDeyah Forte (Pensacola, Fla.), Morgan Hunt (Colleyville, Texas), Hanne Mestdagh (Ieper, Belgium) and Fort Collins native Kara Spotton (Rocky Mountain). Hanne Mestdagh is the younger sister of teammate Kim Mestdagh.
The Rams open the season with an exhibition tilt vs. Colorado Christian at 7 p.m. on Oct. 30 at Moby Arena.
2011-12 Mountain West Preseason Poll
| Rk. | Team (First-place votes) | Points |
| 1. | TCU (12) | 136 |
| 2. | San Diego State (7) | 127 |
| 3. | Colorado State (1) | 106 |
| 4. | New Mexico | 74 |
| 5. | UNLV | 65 |
| Wyoming | 65 | |
| 7. | Air Force | 42 |
| 8. | Boise State | 39 |
2011-12 Mountain West Preseason All-Conference Team
Dymond James, Jr., F Air Force
Kim Mestdagh, Sr., G/F Colorado State
Sara Halasz, Jr., G New Mexico
Starr Crawford, Jr., F TCU
Jamie Smith, Sr., F UNLV
Preseason Player of the Year: Kim Mestdagh, Sr., G/F, Colorado State
Preseason Newcomer of the Year: Chelsea Hopkins, Jr., G, San Diego State
Preseason Freshman of the Year: Chairese Culberson, F, San Diego State
