Liberty University sophomore guard Megan Frazee was named the Big South Conference Preseason Women's Basketball Player of the Year at Wednesday's 2006-07 Basketball Tip-Off Media Luncheon, held at the Renaissance Suites Hotel in Charlotte. In addition, the Lady Flames were selected as the favorite to continue their string of Big South Conference titles, while junior guard Allyson Fasnacht was also included on the preseason all-conference roster. 

Frazee (So., G, Xenia, Ohio) led all vote-getters in the balloting conducted by the conference's women's basketball coaches, sports information directors and media personnel. She averaged 18.5 ppg and 9.8 rpg during the 2005-06 season before falling victim to a season-ending knee injury in game 14. While healthy, Frazee was twice named the Big South Player of the Week and garnered a pair of Big South Freshman of the Week honors. She recorded a conference-high nine double-doubles and was the MVP of the N.C. State Tournament. At season's end, she was a Virginia Sports Information Directors Association (VaSID) second-team all-state selection. Frazee is the first Liberty player to be named Big South Preseason Player of the Year since Katie Feenstra was given that title entering her senior year (2004-05). 

Fasnacht (Jr., G, Salem, Va.) is included on the Big South Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team for the second-straight season. The Lady Flames' floor general was a Big South All-Conference first-team honoree a season ago and also took home Big South Championship MVP honors. Fasnacht averaged 7.4 ppg during the 2005-06 campaign, ranked second in the conference with a .809 free throw percentage and was 10th in the Big South with 2.7 apg. 

Joining the pair of Lady Flames on the preseason all-conference roster are High Point senior guard Leslie Cook, Winthrop sophomore forward Ashley Fann and Radford senior center Sarah Stephens. 

Head coach Carey Green's Lady Flames received 21 of 26 first-place votes and garnered 202 total points, allowing them to easily outdistance High Point as the preseason favorite to win the conference title. Liberty went 13-1 in Big South competition a year ago, capturing its ninth-straight regular season conference crown. The Lady Flames then went on to win the Big South Championship title for the 10th-consecutive time. All 14 players as well as the entire coaching staff return from the 2005-06 team. 

High Point, which dealt Liberty its only conference setback a season ago and finished as the Big South regular-season and tournament runner-up, placed second in the balloting, taking four first-place votes and 178 total points. Winthrop finished third with 136 points. The Eagles enjoyed an 11.5-game improvement a season ago. 

Coastal Carolina was fourth in the voting, tallying 117 points, while Radford took fifth, totaling 115 points and one first-place vote. UNC Asheville was sixth with 100 points, and Birmingham-Southern and Charleston Southern tied for seventh with 44 points apiece. 

Liberty will open its season Nov. 11 with a home contest against Norfolk State. Tip-off at the Vines Center is set for 7 p.m.

2006-07 Big South Conference Women's Basketball Preseason All-Conference Team
Megan Frazee, Liberty, So., G, 6-3 – Preseason Player of the Year
Leslie Cook, High Point, Sr., G, 5-11
Ashley Fann, Winthrop, So., F, 6-0
Sarah Stephens, Radford, Sr., C, 6-1
Allyson Fasnacht, Liberty, Jr., G, 5-8

2006-07 Preseason Poll (First-Place Votes)-Total Points
1. Liberty (21)-202
2. High Point (4)-178
3. Winthrop-136
4. Coastal Carolina-117
5. Radford (1)-115
6. UNC Asheville-100
T7. Birmingham-Southern-44
T7. Charleston Southern-44