Mid-American Conference

 
East Division
Gabby Burris, Ohio, Forward
Sophomore – Baltimore, Ohio/Liberty Union
Sophomore forward Gabby Burris (Baltimore, Ohio) scored a career-high 23 points to lead the Ohio women's basketball team (1-0) to a 95-72 win over UNCW on Sunday (Nov. 11) in the 2018-19 season opener at the Convocation Center in Athens. Burris shot 8-of-15 from the floor, including 3-of-6 from three-point range, and made all four of her free throw attempts. She also chipped in five rebounds and a steal in 35 minutes of action.
 
West Division
Courtney Woods, NIU, Forward
Senior – Brisbane, Australia/St. Margaret’s
Woods had a pair of double-doubles to open the season for NIU against Yale and Iowa State. On Thursday night, the senior led all scorers with 38 points, one shy of her career-high of 39. She was also 14-of-14 at the foul line and made six three-pointers. Woods led the Huskies with 12 rebounds as NIU defeated Yale 89-80 at the NIU Convocation Center. She had 10 points and 10 rebounds Sunday as the Huskies fell at Iowa State 70-60 in the WNIT Quarterfinals.

 
 
Other Nominees:
Megan Carter, Kent State, Guard
R-Junior – Farmington Hills, Michigan/North Farmington
Megan Carter had a terrific opening weekend, averaging 19.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists during Kent State's trip to Tobacco Road. Carter helped the Golden Flashes hold a 2-point lead at the final media timeout in a tough setback at North Carolina in the opener, scoring a team-high 17 points. She then poured in a game-high 22 points and grabbed a career-high 7 rebounds on Sunday vs. #17 NC State.
 
Andrea Cecil, Bowling Green, Guard/Forward
Junior – Oak Harbor, Ohio/Oak Harbor
Bowling Green junior G/F Andrea Cecil had a game-high 19 points and led the Falcons with six rebounds in BG’s season-opening contest at Michigan State. Cecil was 7-for-12 from the floor and hit a career-high four three-point field goals, going 4-for-6 performance from long range against the Spartans.
 
Cierra Dillard, Buffalo, Guard
Junior – Rochester, NY/Gates Chili
Senior guard Cierra Dillard opened up her 2018-19 campaign with a strong performance to lead the Bulls to the road win over Maryland Eastern Shore. The Rochester native netted a game-high 23 points, four rebounds, four assists and two steals while also netting a career-high 13 free throws in the win. With the Bulls only leading by three down the stretch, Dillard was able to close out the game going 6-for-6 from the charity stripe to secure the road victory. The 23-point effort gives Dillard 12 games of 20+ points since joining the Bulls including five straight games dating back to last season.
 
Presley Hudson, Central Michigan, Guard
Senior – Wayland, Michigan/Wayland
The senior guard picked up right where she left off in the Chippewas season opener against Oakland. Hudson paced the offense with 26 points on 9-of-17 shooting and was 6-of-12 from behind the arc. The Wayland, Mich., native also dished out 5 assists which puts her just 4 away from become CMU's all-time leader in that regard. Hudson's six three pointer also put her just three away from the all-time record. The Chippewas will host South Dakota State Monday evening in a non-conference tilt.
 
Courtnie Lewis, Eastern Michigan, Guard
Sophomore – Belton, Michigan/Belton
Sophomore Courtnie Lewis picked up right where she left off, leading Eastern Michigan to a 69-63 season-opening win over Cleveland State, Nov. 9. Lewis led Eastern to a come-from-behind win, scoring 18 of her 20 points in the second half. The Belton, Mo. native poured in a game-high 20 points on 8-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-4 from long range.
 
Kendall McCoy, Miami, Guard/Forward
Senior – Sylvania, Ohio/Sylvania Northview
Senior guard/forward Kendall McCoy led the Miami squad to a huge comeback win at Canisius in the season opener on Friday after trailing by as many as 19 points. McCoy led the RedHawks scoring with 16 points and led the RedHawks defensive front with seven defensive rebounds. Her 16 points included two shots from behind the arc, which tied for the team lead and led the team in shooting percentage from behind the arc. McCoy also tied for the team lead with two steals.
 
Kaayla McIntyre, Toledo, Center
Junior – Toledo, Ohio/Notre Dame Academy
Senior Kaayla McIntyre poured in a game-high 24 points at Maine in Saturday's season opener, to go along with seven boards in only 25 minutes. McIntyre shot an efficient 11-of-20 from the field and 2-of-3 from the charity stripe against the 2017-18 America East champions to score at least 20 points for the eighth time as a Rocket. The last time a Rocket attempted at least 20 shots from the floor was classmate Mikaela Boyd with 21 against Northern Illinois in the 2017 MAC Championship Game (March 11). The 2018-19 Preseason All-MAC West Division selection tallied at least 10 points on a squad-best 31 occasions a season ago.
 
Jasmin Samz, Ball State, Guard
Senior – Wausau, Wisconsin/Wausau West
Jasmin Samz led all players in scoring with an 18-point performance in the Cardinals 67-62 victory over Cleveland State Sunday afternoon in Worthen Arena.  Ball State trailed the Vikings late in the fourth quarter but fought their way back with baskets from Samz that turned into a 10-0 for the Cardinals.  Samz hit a trifecta with 1:26 left to give Ball State the lead for good, 64-62.  
 
Leighah-Amori Wool, Western Michigan, Forward
Sophomore – Evanston, Illinois/Evanston
Wool helped guide the Broncos to a 1-1 week with career performances each game versus Purdue Fort Wayne and New Mexico State. In the season opener versus Fort Wayne, Wool set a career-high with 17 points and followed that up with her first career double-double versus the WAC Preseason Favorite Aggies from NM State, scoring 19 points with 11 rebounds.