CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Mid-American Conference announced Wednesday, October 30th the 2019-20 Women’s Basketball Coaches Preseason Poll and All-MAC Teams as voted on by the league’s 12 head coaches.
Ohio and Central Michigan were each selected to win their respective divisions in 2019-20, with the Bobcats being selected to capture this year’s MAC Women’s Basketball Tournament title.
Ohio is coming off of a season that saw them total 30 wins while advancing to the MAC Championship game and the round of eight of the Women's NIT. The Bobcats return the MAC Freshman and Sixth Player of the Year Erica Johnson, along with Cierra (CeCe) Hooks who earned the MAC Defensive Player of the Year award a year ago.
The 2018 MAC Champion Buffalo Bulls are predicted to finish second in the East this season. UB will return All-MAC Second Team member Summer Hemphill, who averaged 14.5 points and 10.3 rebounds last year. Rounding out the East Division is Kent State in third, Miami in fourth, Akron in fifth, and Bowling Green rounding out the East selections in sixth.
Under first year head coach Heather Oesterle, the Chippewas will look to repeat a season in which they grabbed a third-consecutive MAC regular season title, and second-straight NCAA Tournament appearance. CMU will return three starters to the team in 2019-20, including Third Team All-MAC member Micaela Kelly. Northern Illinois is selected to finish second in the West after receiving four votes to win the division while Toledo, Eastern Michigan, Ball State and Western Michigan complete the West, respectively.
Ohio teammates CeCe Hooks and Erica Johnson highlight the East Division Preseason All-MAC Team, after both earning All-MAC accolades a season ago. Miami’s Lauren Dickerson and Buffalo’s Summer Hemphill earn their second consecutive Preseason All-MAC honor along with Kent State guard Megan Carter who makes her first appearance on the squad.
NIU Redshirt Senior Courtney Woods makes her second straight appearance on the Preseason All-MAC West Division Team. She is joined on the team by Oshynn Brown of Ball State, Nakiah Black of Toledo, Western Michigan’s Breanna Mobley, Corrione Cardwell of Eastern Michigan, and 2018 All-MAC Third Team honoree Micaela Kelly.
The MAC regular season tips off on Tuesday, November 5
thwith seven out of the twelve teams competing in non-conference action. The road to Cleveland begins in the New Year with all 12 programs hitting the court on Saturday, January 4
thto start MAC play. The 2020 Women’s Basketball Tournament is set for March 9th on the high-seed campuses of the No. 5 through No. 8 seeds before moving to Quicken Loans Arena on March 11th.
2019-20 MAC Women’s Basketball Preseason Coaches’ Poll
East Division Predicted Order of Finish
1. Ohio (12 First Place Votes) – 72 points
2. Buffalo – 56
3. Kent State – 50
4. Miami – 32
5. Akron – 28
6. Bowling Green – 14
West Division Predicted Order of Finish
1. Central Michigan (4 first place votes) – 60 points
2. Northern Illinois – 59 (4)
3. Toledo – 50 (2)
4. Eastern Michigan – 35 (1)
5. Ball State – 30 (1)
6. Western Michigan - 18
2020 MAC Regular Season Predicted Champion: Ohio (12)
2020 MAC Tournament Predicted Champion: Ohio (10), Buffalo (1), Northern Illinois (1)
Preseason All-MAC East Division Team
Erica Johnson, Ohio, R-Sophomore, Forward
Summer Hemphill, Buffalo, Senior, Forward
Lauren Dickerson, Miami, Senior, Guard
Megan Carter, Kent State, R-Senior, Guard
Cierra (CeCe) Hooks, Ohio, Junior, Guard
Preseason All-MAC West Division Team (6 Players due to ties)
Courtney Woods, Northern Illinois, R-Senior, Guard/Forward
Micaela Kelly, Central Michigan, Junior, Guard
Oshlynn Brown, Ball State, Junior, Forward
Corrione Cardwell, Eastern Michigan, R-Junior, Guard
Breanna Mobley, Western Michigan, R-Senior, Forward
Nakiah Black, Toledo, Junior, Guard
