M I N E R I L L U S T R AT E D. C O M
bracket. We also discuss who will be the most valuable player based on that prediction and to us, it’s a pretty easy pick. WHO WILL WIN THE C-USA TOURNAMENT? ALEX MORALES: Houston will win the conference tournament for the women. The Lady Cougars have been unstoppable so far in the conference. They have beaten every single team at least once,
and I do not see them slipping up during the tournament. Houston is a very balanced team that has the ability to score with anyone on the floor. I will be shocked if Houston is upset in the tournament. ANGEL LUNA: The Lady Cougars are the team to beat with a record of 24-4, including the best record on the road 122. They are on a 15-game winning streak at this moment. The Lady Cougars have the best scoring balance in C-USA with Brittney Scott (15.9 ppg), Porsche Landry (15.2 ppg), Courtney Taylor (15.6 ppg) and Lesslee Mason (10.5 ppg). GUS CONTRERAS: Houston will win the Conference USA tournament because they are flat out the best team in the conference. Their unbeaten record speaks for itself, and their team’s experience will spur them on. The Cougars are 25th in the nation and will definitely use all their weapons to win the tournament. Houston is packed with experienced players such as Porsche Landry, Lesslee Mason, Brittney Scott, and Courtney Taylor. They have the number one seed and easiest road to the finals; they will finish C-USA undefeated in 2011. JOSH PUGA: Not sure any team can derail the Houston Cougars as they have steamrolled through Conference USA going 16-0 heading into the tournament as not only the hottest team in the conference, but one of the hottest teams in the country. Houston might face some resistance, but they only lose if they beat themselves. UTEP66: Twenty-fifth ranked Houston has been the elite team in the conference this year, and this year’s tournament is theirs. No team in the conference can match their balanced scoring threats of Britney Scott, Courtney Taylor and Porsche Landry, who each average over fifteen points per game. A balanced scoring attack coupled with the rebounding of Lesslee Mason and Courtney Taylor will be a formidable task for any C-USA team to match.
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WHO WILL BE NAMED THE MVP? ALEX MORALES: Southern Miss’ senior Tanesha Washington is by far the best player in Conference USA. She is almost averaging a double-double a game. She is scoring 16 points and grabbing nine boards a game. She is a force inside the paint. Southern Miss revolves their offense around Washington. If they need a basket or a timely rebound, Washington is the one person who more than likely will give them either one. There is no one who can match her athleticism in every facet of the game in C-USA. ANGEL LUNA: Houston senior Courtney Traylor registered her 18th double-double of the season at Marshall with 18 points and 10 rebounds to go with two blocks and two steals. She was also named C-USA Player of the Week five different times. She averages 15.6 points and 11.4 rebounds per game. GUS CONTRERAS: Houston senior forward Courtney Taylor, who averages 15 points and 11 assists per game, is the best player in the conference. Hands sown, she is the MVP of the conference and should also win C-USA Player of the Year. JOSH PUGA: Reigning C-USA Player of the year Courtney Taylor from Houston is having another great season, averaging 15 points and 11 rebounds per game. She has been almost impossible to stop this season and will continue her dominance leading Houston to the CUSA tournament title. UTEP66: Quite simply, Courtney Taylor of Houston.