Media members working with Big 12 women’s basketball teams point to Iowa State as the team to beat this season.

The Cyclones totaled 159 points in the voting, including eight first-place votes. Texas Tech finished second with 148 and Oklahoma was right behind at 147. The Lady Raiders earned one first-place vote while the Sooners received five.

The Cyclones are returning from a 27-6 season, in which they won the Big 12 regular season and tournament titles. The Cyclones advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament before being eliminated by Penn State.

ISU junior center Angie Welle was named the preseason player of the year. Welle is the top returning scorer and rebounder in the Big 12, carrying averages of 15.4 points per game and 8.6 rebounds.

Welle was the Big 12 freshman of the year in 1998 and has earned all-conference honors in both her freshman and sophomore seasons.

Welle was joined on the preseason All-Big 12 first team by teammate Megan Taylor. Taylor, 5-10 senior guard, averaged 13 points and 6.9 rebounds per game last season.

Also on the first team were Missouri forward Amanda Lassiter, Oklahoma guard LaNeisha Caufield, Oklahoma guard Stacey Dales and Texas Tech forward Plenette Pierson.