MAC Announces Results of Women's Basketball Preseason Poll
CLEVELAND- Ball State (West Division) and Ohio (East Division) have been selected as the women’s basketball preseason favorites as voted by members of the MAC Media Association and league head coaches. Ball State, last season’s MAC Tournament runner-up, was the favorite to capture this season’s MAC Tournament title.
The Cardinals (24-7/13-3 MAC) return four starters from last season squad that participated the WNIT last year. Head coach Tracy Roller returns three starters that average at least 10 points a game. Among them are first-team Alll-MAC selection Julie DeMuth (15.5 ppg, 8.8 rpg.), senior Lisa Rusche (11.2 ppg, 6.9 rpg.) and preseason All-MAC selection Porchia Green (11.2 ppg, 6.9 rpg.). Last season marked Roller’s third first place finish in her six season’s at BSU and with their 24 win’s the Cardinals tied the school record for most wins in a season.
Northern Illinois (19-12/8-8 MAC) were tabbed to finish second in the West and will return two starters with preseason All-MAC selection Jessie Wilcox (9.8 ppg., 3.8 rpg.) and Whitney Lowe (8.4 ppg., 4.9 rpg.). Head coach Carol Owens enters her third season at NIU and was an assistant coach for the Gold-Medal winning Team USA at the FIBA U19 World Championships for Women.
Eastern Michigan (16-13/10-6 MAC) and first year head coach AnnMarie Gilbert were selected to finish third and will return 2007 MAC Freshman of the Year and preseason All-MAC selection Alyssa Pittman (12.3 ppg., 2.4 rpg.). Pittman played in all 29 games for the Eagles in her rookie campaign where her 80 treys in 208 attempts were the most ever in a season for EMU.
Western Michigan (14-18/6-10 MAC), Toledo (11-19/6-10 MAC) and Central Michigan (11-19/3-13 MAC) were chosen fourth, fifth and sixth, respectfully. Tiera DeLaHoussaye (11.3, 1.4 rpg.) returns for Broncos head coach Ron Stewart. Last season she lead the MAC and ranked 15th in the nation with 3.00 steals per game. Mark Ehlen returns Ta’Yani Clark who was the only player to start all 30 contests for the Rockets. Under new head coach Sue Guevara, the Chippewas will return three starters from last season’s team including senior Candace Wilson (9.4 ppg., 2.8 rpg.).
The Bobcats were chosen by pollsters to capture the East Division title. Coach Sylvia Crawley returns four starters, all of who average at least seven points a game. Among her returnees is second team All-MAC selection Lauren Kohn (16.1 ppg., 4.3 rpg.) and fellow senior Quintana Ward (8.5 ppg., 2.1 rpg.). During her first season, Crawley doubled Ohio’s wins from the previous season.
Coach Curt Miller and the three-time MAC Champion Bowling Green Falcons (31-4/15-1 MAC) were tabbed to finish second in the East Divison. Miller, whose team became the first MAC ever team to advance to the Sweet Sixteen, returns only one starter in Kate Achter (11.6 ppg., 3.5 rpg.). Achter is one of only two players in BGSU history to reach both 1,000 points and 400 assists.
Miami (12-18/6-10 MAC)comes in a close third on this season’s poll. The RedHawks return all five starters from last season, three of which average over 10 points a game. Coach Maria Fantanarosa’s top returnee is senior Amanda Jackson (17.2 ppg., 4.7 rpg.) who ranked third in the conference last season in scoring and was named to the first team All-MAC.
Finishing fourth and fifth and also receiving first place votes were Kent State (15-13/11-5 MAC) and Buffalo (10-19/5-11 MAC). The Golden Flashes, who finished second in the East last year, return only one starter in Jamilah Humes (9.0 ppg., 2.8 rpg.). The Bulls return four starters including top scorers Heather Turner (12.1 ppg., 8.1 rpg) and Stephanie Bennett (11.2 ppg., 3.5 rpg.). Turner has lead the conference in field goal percentages for the last three seasons.
Akron (10-19/3-13 MAC) finishes out the East Divison poll, picked to finish sixth. Coach Jodi Kest returns all-freshman teamer Sarah Tokodi (12.6 ppg., 3.4 rpg.) who was one of only two Zips to play in all 29 contests last season.
The women’s basketball season begins on Sunday, November 4 with three teams in action. The MAC season will start January 9 with all teams in action. The conference tournament will begin March 9 at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio.
