Mid-American Conference

CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced Thursday, October 27th the 2016-17 Women’s Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll and All-MAC Teams as voted on by the 12 head coaches of the Mid-American Conference.
 
Ohio and Central Michigan were selected to each win their respective divisions in 2017 as both programs return veteran squads. Aside from being selected as the favorites to win the regular season, the Chippewas were also tabbed to win the 2017 MAC Women’s Basketball Tournament in March.
 
The Bobcats return 11 student-athletes from last year’s team, including 2016 MAC All-Defensive Player of the Year, Quiera Lampkin. Defending MAC Tournament Champions, Buffalo were selected to finish second. The Bulls are coming off a 20-win season and bring back five starters as they enter the 2017 campaign. Rounding out the East Division is Akron in third, Bowling Green fourth, Miami fifth and Kent State sixth.
 
For Central Michigan, every key reserve player and four starters return for the 16-17 season. Among them are 2015-16 MAC Freshman of the Year, Presley Hudson and Co-Sixth Player of the Year, Jewel Cotton. Ball State and Toledo tied for the second spot in the West Division. The Cardinals return four of their five starters, while the Rockets being back three. Western Michigan, Northern Illinois and Eastern Michigan complete the West, respectively.
 
Ohio’s Lampkin was selected to the Preseason All-MAC Team, along with Buffalo teammates Stephanie Reid and JoAnna Smith. Akron’s Hannah Plybon and Kent State’s Jordan Korinek complete the squad for the East.
 
Presley Hudson of Central Michigan and teammate, Tinara Moore were selected represent the Chippewas on the Preseason All-MAC West Team. Joing them are Toledo’s Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott, Janice Monakana and Northern Illinois’ Ally Lehman.
 
The MAC regular season tips off on Friday, November 11 as seven of the 12 MAC programs hit the court. On Saturday, December 31st the road to Cleveland begins as MAC play gets underway. The 2017 Women’s Basketball Tournament is set for March 6th on the high-seed campuses of the No. 5 through No. 8 seeds before moving to Quicken Loans Arena on March 8-11.
 
2016-17 MAC East Predicted Order of Finish
1. Ohio (9 First Place Votes) - 69
2. Buffalo (3) - 60
3. Akron -48
4. Bowling Green -30
5. Miami - 27
6. Kent State - 18
 
2016-17 MAC West Predicted Order of Finish
1. Central Michigan (12) - 72
T2. Ball State - 53
T2. Toledo - 53
4. Western Michigan - 34
5. Northern Illinois - 25
6. Eastern Michigan - 15
 
2017 MAC Regular Season Predicted Champion
Central Michigan (6)
Ohio (5)
Buffalo (1)
 
2017 MAC Tournament Predicted Champion
Central Michigan (7)
Ohio (4)
Buffalo (1)
 
Preseason All-MAC East Team
Jordan Korinek, Kent State
Quiera Lampkins, Ohio
Hannah Plybon, Akron
Stephanie Reid, Buffalo
JoAnna Smith, Buffalo
 
Preseason All-MAC West Team
Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott, Toledo
Presley Hudson, Central Michigan
Ally Lehman, Northern Illinois
Janice Monakana, Toledo
Tinara Moore, Central Michigan