Mid-American Conference

CLEVELAND, Ohio - On the eve of the 2018 MAC Women's Basketball Tournament Quarterfinals, the conference office announced the Player, Coach and Freshman of the Year, as voted by the head coaches, sports information directors and media members of the Mid-American Conference.
 
The conference office also released the 2017-18 All-MAC Teams, All-Freshman Team, All-Defensive Team, Defensive Player of the Year and Sixth Player of the Year awards as voted by the league's 12 head coaches.
 
For the fourth time in conference history, the MAC Player of the Year is also the Defensive Player of the Year. Central Michigan's Tinara Moore joins her former teammate, Crystal Bradford (2014) as the top Women's Basketball Player in the Mid-American Conference. Moore also becomes the fourth student-athlete to repeat as the defensive honoree.
 
This season, Moore started in all 29 games for CMU, scoring over 20 points in 12 of them and registering eight double-doubles. The 6' 3" forward, led the Chippewas in points (558), scoring average (19.2), free throws made (146) and blocked shots (68). A native of Southgate, Michigan, Moore ranks first in the MAC in blocked shots (49) and defensive rebounds (138) and second in scoring (21.0 avg.) and rebounding (10.4). Additionally, Moore sits 22nd nationally in blocked shots and 21st in field-goal percentage (58.7). The All-MAC First Team member becomes the second Chippewa in program history to earn each honor.
 
Central Michigan University Head Coach Sue Guevara, was named 2018 MAC Women's Basketball Coach of the Year. In her eleventh year with the program, Guevara led the Chippewas to back-to-back MAC Regular Season titles. CMU finished conference play ranked first in scoring offense (83.8), field-goal percentage (.481), free throw percentage (.789), rebounding margin (+7.4), and 3-point field goals made (156). The Chippewas are third in the country in free-throw percentage at 80.3. They also sit nationally in scoring offense (6th), won-lost percentage (11th), field-goal percentage (15th), 3-point field goals per game (12th), fewest fouls (16th), and 3-point field-goals made (16th).
 
Receiving the title 2018 MAC Freshman of the Year is Ohio's Cierra (CeCe) Hooks. The 5'8" guard ranks first in the MAC in steals (61) and 16th in scoring (14.8 ppg). Over the course of the season, Hooks played in 23 games for the Bobcats, starting in 7 to average 26.3 minutes. The Dayton, Ohio native led Ohio in points per game, rebounds, steals, and shooting percentage.  She already holds the single-season record for steals, now with 99. In her freshman season Cierra scored double digit points 23 times, scoring 20 points or more four times. Hooks becomes the third Bobcat named Freshman of the Year, joining Rachel Frederick and Caroline Mast.
 
For the second straight year, the MAC Sixth Player of the Year hails from Ball State. Freshman Oshlynn Brown becomes the fourth Cardinal to receive the honor. Head Coach Brady Sallee said, "Osh's role on our team this season has grown and grown this year! We needed her to fill some big shoes for us this season and from day one, her work ethic and coach ability were really special. Clearly, we're very proud of her and extremely excited for the future!" The 6'0" forward leads the team in rebounds (218), sits in second in free throws (63) and fifth in blocked shots (10). The Chillicothe, Ohio native has played in 29 games for the Cardinals, starting in two. She averages 7.5 rebounds per game and 8.7 points. Brown sits 3rd in the MAC in offensive rebounds (89), 10th in rebounding (218) and 5th in field goal percentage (.543).
 
Joining Moore on the All-MAC First Team is her CMU teammate Presley Hudson. The pair are accompanied by Kent State's Jordan Korinek, Miami's Lauren Dickerson and Northern Illinois' Courtney Woods complete this year's team. 
 
A trio of Buffalo Bulls were tabbed for All-MAC Second Team in Cierra Dillard, Cassie Oursler and Stephanie Reid. Ball State's Moriah Monaco and Central Michigan's Reyna Frost round out the honorees.
 
Receiving third-team honors is Ball State's Carmen Grande, EMU's Danielle Minott, Ohio's Cierra Hooks and the Toledo duo of Kaayla McIntyre and Mikaela Boyd.
 
Eastern Michigan's Courtnie Lewis, Miami's Kendall McCoy, NIU's Kelly Smith, Toledo's, Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott and WMU's Breanna Mobley all were selected for honorable mention recognition.
 
Chosen for their outstanding effort at the defensive end of the court, the 2017-18 MAC All-Defensive Team consists Carmen Grande (Ball State), Stephanie Reid (Buffalo), Tinara Moore (CMU), Cierra Hooks (Ohio) and Mikaela Boyd (Toledo).
 
Rounding out the postseason award list is the 2017-18 All-Freshman Team. Receiving rookie season honors are Ball State's Oshlynn Brown, Central Michigan's Micaela Kelly, Eastern Michigan's Courtnie Lewis, and Ohio teammates Cierra Hooks and Gabby Burris.
 
The MACtion moves to Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, Ohio beginning Wednesday, March 7th at noon when #9 Eastern Michigan faces #1 Central Michigan, followed by #5 Ohio taking on #4 Miami. Visit Tournament Central for a complete bracket. 
 

MAC Player of the Year (First Place Votes – Total Points):
Tinara Moore, Central Michigan (32 - 184)
Presley Hudson, Central Michigan (8 – 95)
Lauren Dickerson, Miami (2 - 49)
Courtney Woods, Northern Illinois (4 – 44)
Moriah Monaco, Ball State (2 – 26)
 
MAC Coach of the Year
Sue Guevara, Central Michigan (23 - 173)
Megan Duffy, Miami (18 - 129)
Felisha Legette-Jack, Buffalo (7 - 105)
 
MAC Freshman of the Year
Cierra Hooks, Ohio (21 - 159)
Courtnie Lewis, Eastern Michigan (21 - 156)
Micaela Kelly, Central Michigan (4 - 65)
Oshlynn Brown, Ball State (2 - 41)
 
MAC Women's Basketball Sixth Player of the Year
Oshlynn Brown, Ball State
 
MAC Women's Basketball Defensive Player of the Year
Tinara Moore, Central Michigan
 
Women's Basketball All-MAC First Team
Presley Hudson, Central Michigan
Tinara Moore, Central Michigan
Jordan Korinek, Kent State
Lauren Dickerson, Miami
Courtney Woods, Northern Illinois
 
Women's Basketball All-MAC Second Team
Moriah Monaco, Ball State
Cierra Dillard, Buffalo
Cassie Oursler, Buffalo
Stephanie Reid, Buffalo
Reyna Frost, Central Michigan
 
Women's Basketball All-MAC Third Team
Carmen Grande, Ball State
Danielle Minott, Eastern Michigan
Cierra Hooks, Ohio
Kaayla McIntyre, Toledo
Mikaela Boyd, Toledo
 
Women's Basketball All-MAC Honorable Mention
Courtnie Lewis, Eastern Michigan
Kendall McCoy, Miami
Kelly Smith, Northern Illinois
Jay-Ann Bravo-Harriott, Toledo
Breanna Mobley, Western Michigan
 
MAC All-Defensive Team
Carmen Grande, Ball State
Stephanie Reid, Buffalo
Tinara Moore, Central Michigan
Cierra Hooks, Ohio
Mikaela Boyd, Toledo
 
MAC All-Freshman Team
Oshlynn Brown, Ball State
Micaela Kelly, Central Michigan
Courtnie Lewis, Eastern Michigan
Cierra Hooks, Ohio
Gabby Burris, Ohio