MANHATTAN, Kan. – Kansas State senior guard Shalee Lehning was named to the 2008-09 Preseason All-Big 12 team on Wednesday morning by the league’s coaches.

Joining Lehning on the team were Courtney Paris of Oklahoma, Kelsey Griffin of Nebraska, Takia Starks of Texas A&M and Andrea Riley of Oklahoma State. The voting was done by the league’s head coaches, with each coach unable to vote for their own player.

Lehning, a 2008 All-Big 12 first team selection and 2008-09 All-American candidate, enters her senior year on the cusp of setting the school record for career assists. She currently ranks second with 571 assists and needs 19 assists to pass Megan Mahoney (2001-05; 589) for the top spot. Lehning also will climb the ranks of the career rebounds chart (703; 9th), career steals (187; 7th) and career points (868; 35th).

Following a 2008 season which saw Lehning average 11.3 points per game, 7.6 rebounds and 6.3 assists, she was recognized by a number of media outlets for her effort. Organizations to honor Lehning included: WBCA Region V All-America finalist, Kansas City Star co-Player of the Year and All-Big 12 first team and the Waco Tribune All-Big 12 second team. Lehning was also exceptional in the classroom as she was named to the Academic All-Big 12 first team and to the CoSIDA/ESPN the Magazine Academic All-District VII third team.

The 2008-09 Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year is Paris, while the Preseason Newcomer of the Year is Tanisha Smith of Texas A&M and the Preseason co-Freshmen of the Year are Whitney Hand of Oklahoma and Tyra White of Texas A&M.

Kansas State opens the 2008-09 season with a pair of exhibition games in Bramlage Coliseum on Sunday, Nov. 2, against Washburn at 1 p.m. and Friday, Nov. 7, against Emporia State at 7 p.m. The Wildcats open their season at UTEP on Nov. 14, and begin the home portion of its schedule on Sunday, Nov. 23, against UTSA at 1 p.m. For ticket information, visit www.kstatesports.com or call (800) 221-CATS.

2008-09 Big 12 Conference Women’s Basketball Preseason All-Big 12 Team

(coaches not allowed to vote for own players)

Preseason Player of the Year

Courtney Paris, Oklahoma, C, 6-4, Sr, Piedmont, Calif./Piedmont

Preseason Newcomer of the Year

Tanisha Smith, Texas A&M, G/F, 6-0, Jr, Kansas City, Mo./Lincoln Prep/Arkansas/Arkansas-Fort Smith

Preseason Co-Freshmen of the Year

Whitney Hand, Oklahoma, G, 6-1, Fr, Fort Worth, Texas/Liberty Christian School

Tyra White, Texas A&M, G, 6-0, RSFr, Kansas City, Mo./Hickman Mills

Preseason All-Big 12 Team

Name School Pos Ht Cl-Exp PPG RPG Hometown/Previous School

Shalee Lehning Kansas State G 5-9 Sr-3L 11.3 7.6 Sublette, Kan./Sublette

Kelsey Griffin Nebraska F 6-2 Sr-3L 15.3 7.2 Eagle River, Alaska/Chugiak

Courtney Paris Oklahoma C 6-4 Sr-3L 18.6 15.0 Piedmont, Calif./Piedmont

Andrea Riley Oklahoma State G 5-5 Jr-2L 23.1 3.7 Dallas, Texas/Lincoln

Takia Starks Texas A&M G 5-8 Sr-3L 16.3 4.3 Houston, Texas/Westfield

Honorable Mention (listed alphabetically by school)

Rachel Allison and Jessica Morrow (Baylor), Alison Lacey (Iowa State), Brittainey Raven (Texas) and Danielle Gant (Texas A&M)