Colorado's Tabitha Benson named Big 12 Freshman of the Year in preseason voting

The Big 12 Conference agrees: Tabitha Benson is one to watch.

Benson, a 6-foot-2 forward who is originally from Australia, was named Big 12 Preseason Freshman of the Year in voting by the league's coaches Thursday. The former McDonald's All-American from DME Academy in Daytona Beach, Fla., represented Australia at the U17 World Cup.

“I think a lot of people recruited Tabs, so a lot of people already know what she brings to the table,” Buffs coach JR Payne said. “It’s an incredible honor."

Benson is the first CU player to earn the preseason honor since Sabrina Scott win 1999. She joins Scott, Britt Hartshorn (1998) and Nikki Weddle (1997) as Buffs to have the award. Benson is one of four true freshmen and 10 newcomers on the CU roster.

In the conference preseason poll, Colorado was picked to finish ninth out of the 16 members. Kansas State is the league's preseason favorite while Wildcats standout Ayoka Lee was named Preseason Player of the Year. Colorado knocked off Kansas State in the NCAA Tournament in March.

The Buffs host Colorado School of Mines in an exhibition game Oct. 27 and open the regular season against Northern Colorado on Nov. 7.

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2024-25 Big 12 women's basketball preseason poll

1. Kansas State (7 first-place votes)

2. Iowa State (6)

3. Baylor (2)

4. TCU

5. West Virginia (1)

6. Utah

7. Arizona

8. Kansas

9. Colorado

10. Texas Tech

11. Oklahoma State

12. BYU

13. Cincinnati

14. UCF

15. Arizona State

16. Houston