IRVING, Texas
– Baylor's Lauren Cox and Te'a Cooper along with Texas freshman Celeste Taylor headlined the 2019-20 Preseason All-Big 12 Women's Basketball Team. The awards are chosen by head coaches, who are not allowed to vote for their own student-athletes.
Cox was selected as the Preseason Player of the Year after guiding the Lady Bears to the 2019 National Championship. Cooper was named the Preseason Newcomer of the Year and Celeste earned Preseason Freshman of the Year accolades.
Cox repeated as the Big 12's Defensive Player of the Year last season, becoming just the third player since the award's inception to earn that honor. She averaged 13.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and a league-leading 97 blocks as a junior in 2018-19. The Flower Mound, Texas, native garnered multiple accolades including Big 12 Sports Person of the Year, All-America status (AP and WBCA) and was named the Most Outstanding Player of the NCAA Championship Greensboro Regional.
Cooper, a graduate transfer from South Carolina, averaged 11.9 points last season for the Gamecocks. She helped South Carolina register a Sweet 16 appearance in 2019. Cooper was named to the All-SEC Second Team in 2018-19 and was an All-SEC Freshman Team Selection in 2015-16 when she played at Tennessee.
Taylor participated in the 2019 McDonald's All-American game and was named the 2019 Gatorade New York Girls Basketball Player of the Year. She earned multiple All-America honorable mention recognition and was a three-time All-State selection. Taylor averaged 16.3 points, 8.3 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game in leading her team to the 2019 New York State Association of Independent Schools Class AA Championship.
Joining Cox on the Preseason All-Big 12 Team are Juicy Landrum (Baylor), NaLyssa Smith (Baylor), Kristin Scott (Iowa State), Peyton Williams (K-State), Ana Llanusa (Oklahoma), Vivian Gray (Oklahoma State), Joyner Holmes (Texas), Sug Sutton (Texas), Brittany Brewer (Texas Tech) and
Tynice Martin (West Virginia).
The 2019-20 season opens on Tuesday, November 5 with three non-conference games. League action begins on Friday, January 3. The Big 12 Tipoff is set for Tuesday, Oct. 22, in Kansas City, at Municipal Auditorium and the Convention Center.
2019-20 Big 12 Conference Women's Basketball Preseason Awards
(coaches not allowed to vote for own players)
Preseason Player of the Year
Lauren Cox, Baylor, F, 6-4, Sr, Flower Mound, Texas
Preseason Newcomer of the Year
Te'a Cooper, Baylor, G, 5-8, Gr, Powder Springs, Ga.
Preseason Freshman of the Year
Celeste Taylor, Texas, G, 5-11, Valley Stream, N.Y.
Preseason All-Big 12 Team
| Name |
School |
Pos |
Ht |
Cl-Exp |
PPG |
RPG |
Hometown |
| Lauren Cox |
Baylor |
F |
6-4 |
Sr-3L |
13.0 |
8.3 |
Flower Mound, Texas |
| Juicy Landrum |
Baylor |
G |
5-8 |
Sr-3L |
11.1 |
5.1 |
Waco, Texas |
| NaLyssa Smith |
Baylor |
F |
6-2 |
So-1L |
8.4 |
5.1 |
Converse, Texas |
| Kristin Scott |
Iowa State |
F/C |
6-3 |
Jr-2L |
12.8 |
7.1 |
Kasson, Minn. |
| Peyton Williams |
K-State |
F |
6-4 |
Sr-3L |
15.5 |
9.5 |
Topeka, Kan. |
| Ana Llanusa |
Oklahoma |
G |
6-0 |
Jr-2L |
18.3 |
3.4 |
Choctaw, Okla. |
| Vivian Gray |
Oklahoma State |
F |
6-1 |
Jr-1L |
20.0 |
5.5 |
Argyle, Texas |
| Joyner Holmes |
Texas |
F |
6-3 |
Sr-3L |
11.8 |
6.7 |
Cedar Hill, Texas |
| Sug Sutton |
Texas |
G |
5-8 |
Sr-3L |
12.7 |
5.4 |
St. Louis, Mo. |
| Brittany Brewer |
Texas Tech |
F |
6-5 |
Sr-3L |
13.9 |
7.3 |
Abilene, Texas |
| Tynice Martin |
West Virginia |
G |
5-11 |
Sr-3L |
18.0 |
5.8 |
Atlanta, Ga. |
* - There was a tie, which included an 11th individual for the Preseason All-Big 12 Team.
Honorable Mention (listed alphabetically by school)
Te'a Cooper (Baylor), DiDi Richards (Baylor), Ashley Joens (Iowa State), Rachel Ranke (K-State), Kianna Ray (TCU), Charli Collier (Texas), Lashann Higgs (Texas), Chrislyn Carr (Texas Tech),
Kari Niblack (West Virginia) and
Madisen Smith (West Virginia).
